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arXiv · 1101.5581

Quantum confinement of Mott electrons in ultrathin LaNiO3/LaAlO3 superlattice

Jian Liu·S. Okamoto·M. van Veenendaal·M. Kareev·B. Gray·P. Ryan·J. W. Freeland·J. Chakhalian
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Abstract

We investigate the electronic reconstruction in (LaNiO$_{3}$)$_n$/(LaAlO$_{3}$)$_3$ (n=3, 5 and 10) superlattices due to the quantum confinement (QC) by d.c. transport and resonant soft x-ray absorption spectroscopy. In proximity to the QC limit, a Mott-type transition from an itinerant electron behavior to a localized state is observed. The system exhibits tendency towards charge-order during the transition. ab initio cluster calculations are in good agreement with the absorption spectra, indicating that the apical ligand hole density is highly suppressed resulting in a strong modification of the electronic structure. At the dimensional crossover cellular dynamical-mean-field calculations support the emergence of a Mott insulator ground state in the heterostructured ultra-thin slab of LaNiO$_{3}$.

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Jian Liu, S. Okamoto, M. van Veenendaal, M. Kareev, B. Gray, P. Ryan, J. W. Freeland, J. Chakhalian. 2011-01-28. Quantum confinement of Mott electrons in ultrathin LaNiO3/LaAlO3 superlattice. https://doi.org/10.1103/physrevb.83.161102

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