Atomic mechanisms of electron doping in perovskite nickelates

Our proposal focuses on the characterization of the electronic structure of epitaxial PrNiO3 and NdNiO3 films using angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy (ARPES) for different Li doping levels across the metal-insulator transition (MIT) as a function of temperature. The potential of interstitial doping to dramatically alter the electronic behavior of perovskite nickelates has been demonstrated in recent years. However, the detailed evolution of the electronic phase diagram in response to electron doping remains poorly understood due to the interplay between electronic doping and the strain introduced into the lattice by substitutional dopants. In a previous proposal, we successfully demonstrated that interstitial Li leads to tunable electronic doping without strain effects. This proposal aims to continue this study with the goal of elucidating the atomistic mechanisms of pure electronic doping, providing insight into the modification of electronic structure and MIT, making Li doping an ideal tool for inducing controlled electronic behavior.