Superconductivity in infinite-layer nickelates holds exciting analogies with that of cuprates, with similar structures and 3d-electron count. Using resonant inelastic x-ray scattering (RIXS) we studied electronic and magnetic excitations and charge density correlations in Nd1−xSrxNiO2 thin films with and without an SrTiO3 capping layer. We observe dispersing magnons only in the capped samples, progressively dampened at higher doping. In addition, we detect an elastic resonant scattering peak in the uncapped x=0 compound at wave vector (1/3,0), remindful of the charge order signal in hole doped cuprates. The peak weakens at x=0.05 and disappears in the superconducting x=0.20 film. The uncapped samples also present a higher degree of Ni3d-Nd5d hybridization and a smaller anisotropy of the Ni3d occupation with respect to the capped samples. The role of the capping on the possible hydrogen incorporation or on other mechanisms responsible for the electronic reconstruction far from the interface remains to be understood.
@article{arxiv.2112.03341,
title = {Charge and spin order dichotomy in NdNiO$_2$ driven by SrTiO$_3$ capping layer},
author = {G. Krieger and L. Martinelli and S. Zeng and L. E. Chow and K. Kummer and R. Arpaia and M. Moretti Sala and N. B. Brookes and A. Ariando and N. Viart and M. Salluzzo and G. Ghiringhelli and D. Preziosi},
journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:2112.03341},
year = {2022}
}