- Accepted Paper
Tuning the electronic structure of infinite-layer nickelate NdNiO through interlayer spacing
Phys. Rev. B - Accepted 13 August, 2026
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1103/bdjt-b3bl
Phys. Rev. B - Accepted 13 August, 2026
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1103/bdjt-b3bl
Since the discovery of superconductivity in infinite-layer nickelates, extensive research has been devoted to uncovering the underlying mechanisms of this phenomenon. Here, combining density functional theory and Wannier functions calculations, we show that increasing the interlayer spacing of Nd-NiO2 enhances the Ni eg orbital polarization and effective Ni dx2−y2 nearest-neighboring hopping while suppressing the hybridization between Ni dx2−y2 and interstitial s orbitals. The pronounced two-dimensional character of the electronic structure and resultant conduction pathways may be favorable for superconductivity. Furthermore, the interlayer spacing strongly affects Fermi surface topology and pocket size around A point in the 1st Brillouin zone, i.e., the self-doping effect. Given that the self-doping effect is considered a key feature distinguishing nickelates from cuprates, this may help explain why the superconducting transition temperature of cuprates is higher. Our results highlight the critical role of interlayer spacing in tuning the electronic structure of infinite-layer nickelates and suggest a feasible route to optimizing superconductivity through structural engineering.
If the author has provided any supplemental materials with this article they will be available upon publication of the version of record.