Abstract
Transition metal oxides offer a vast variety of intriguing electronic phenomena, whose physical nature and emerging applications are among the hottest topics of modern research. Especial interest is attracted to thin films and multilayer heterostructures, whose functional responses can be tailored by controlling the crystal structure and interfaces. In this project, we will investigate influence of photonic irradiation on metal-insulator resistive behaviour in thin films and multilayer heterostructures of rare earth nickelates ReNiO3 with Re = Nd, Sm, Gd. The epitaxial films will be prepared by pulsed laser deposition and their microstructure will be varied using different substrates, film thicknesses and deposition/annealing conditions. Special attention will be given to p-n junctions composed of the films with oxygen vacancies and to a few nm thick NdNiO3-SmNiO3 heterostructures with the metal-insulator transition near the room temperature.