A combination of density functional and dynamical mean field theory calculations are used to show that the remarkable metal-insulator transition in the rare-earth-element nickelate perovskites arises from a site-selective Mott phase, in which the $d$ electrons on half of the Ni ions are localized to form a fluctuating moment while the $d$ electrons on other Ni ions form a singlet with holes on the surrounding oxygen ions. The calculation reproduces key features observed in the nickelate materials, including an insulating gap in the paramagnetic state, a strong variation of static magnetic moments among Ni sites and an absence of charge order. A connection between structure and insulating behavior is documented. The site-selective Mott transition may be a more broadly applicable concept in the description of correlated materials.

• Received 13 June 2012

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.109.156402