Electronic band structure of LaNiO3

The metallic nature of LaNiO3 is studied by the local-density full-potential linearized augmented-plane-wave (FLAPW) band structure calculation. For a hypothetical cubic perovskite structure, we have found a large Fermi surface with a hole inside, which is similar to the Fermi surface seen in oxide high-Tc superconductors. Applying a rhombohedral distortion observed experimentally, the large Fermi surface collapses into small surfaces with electrons and holes. If we stabilize a cubic structure, we may expect the superconductivity in this material on the analogy of the cubic Ba1−xKaxBiO3