Tunable resistivity exponents in the metallic phase of epitaxial nickelates

We report a detailed analysis of the electrical resistivity exponent of thin films of NdNiO₃ as a function of epitaxial strain. Thin films under low strain conditions show a linear dependence of the resistivity versus temperature, consistent with a classical Fermi gas ruled by electron-phonon interactions. In addition, the apparent temperature exponent, n, can be tuned with the epitaxial strain between n = 1 and n = 3. We discuss the critical role played by quenched random disorder in the value of n. Our work shows that the assignment of Fermi/Non-Fermi liquid behaviour based on experimentally obtained resistivity exponents requires an in-depth analysis of the degree of disorder in the material.