Electronic structure of cuprate–nickelate infinite-layer heterostructure

Abstract

The discovery of superconductivity in Sr/Ca-doped infinite-layer nickelates Nd(La)NiO2 thin films inspired extensive experimental and theoretical research. However, research on the possibilities of enhanced critical temperature by interface heterostructure is still lacking. Due to the similarities of the crystal structure and band structure of infinite-layer nickelate LaNiO2 and cuprate CaCuO2, we investigate the crystal, electronic and magnetic properties of LaNiO2:CaCuO2 heterostructure using density functional theory and dynamical mean-field theory. Our theoretical results demonstrate that, even a very weak inter-layer z-direction bond is formed, an intrinsic charge transfer between Cu-3d x 2–y 2 and Ni-3d x 2–y 2 orbitals is obtained. The weak interlayer hopping between Cu and Ni leaves a parallel band contributed by Ni/Cu-3d x 2–y 2 orbitals near the Fermi energy. Such an infinite-layer heterostructure with negligible interlayer interaction and robust charge transfer opens a new way for interface engineering and nickelate superconductors.