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Title: Switchable Induced Polarization in LaAlO3/SrTiO3 Heterostructures

Abstract

Demonstration of a tunable conductivity of the LaAlO3/SrTiO3 interfaces drew significant attention to the development of oxide electronic structures where electronic confinement can be reduced to the nanometer range. While the mechanisms for the conductivity modulation are quite different and include metal insulator phase transition and surface charge writing, generally it is implied that this effect is a result of electrical modification of the LaAlO3 surface (either due to electrochemical dissociation of surface adsorbates or free charge deposition) leading to the change in the twodimensional electron gas (2DEG) density at the LaAlO3/SrTiO3 (LAO/STO) interface. In this paper, using piezoresponse force microscopy we demonstrate a switchable electromechanical response of the LAO overlayer, which we attribute to the motion of oxygen vacancies through the LAO layer thickness. These electrically induced reversible changes in bulk stoichiometry of the LAO layer are a signature of a possible additional mechanism for nanoscale oxide 2DEG control on LAO/STO interfaces.

Authors:
 [1];  [2];  [2];  [1];  [1];  [1];  [3];  [4];  [4];  [4];  [2];  [5];  [3];  [4];  [1]
  1. University of Wisconsin, Madison
  2. University of Nebraska
  3. University of Wisconsin
  4. ORNL
  5. University of Nebraska, Lincoln
Publication Date:
Research Org.:
Oak Ridge National Lab. (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN (United States). Center for Nanophase Materials Sciences (CNMS)
Sponsoring Org.:
USDOE Office of Science (SC)
OSTI Identifier:
1039246
DOE Contract Number:  
DE-AC05-00OR22725
Resource Type:
Journal Article
Journal Name:
Nano Letters
Additional Journal Information:
Journal Volume: 12; Journal Issue: 4; Journal ID: ISSN 1530-6984
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSICS; CONFINEMENT; DEPOSITION; DISSOCIATION; ELECTRON GAS; ELECTRONIC STRUCTURE; LAOS; MICROSCOPY; MODIFICATIONS; MODULATION; OXIDES; OXYGEN; POLARIZATION; STOICHIOMETRY; THICKNESS; VACANCIES; Heterointerfaces; complex oxides; oxygen vacancies; piezoresponse force microscopy

Citation Formats

Bark, C, Sharma, P., Wang, Y., Baek, Seung Hyub, Lee, S., Ryu, S., Folkman, C H, Paudel, Tula R, Kumar, Amit, Kalinin, Sergei V, Sokolov, A., Tsymbal, E Y, Rzchowski, M, Gruverman, Alexei, and Eom, Professor Chang-Beom. Switchable Induced Polarization in LaAlO3/SrTiO3 Heterostructures. United States: N. p., 2012. Web. doi:10.1021/nl3001088.
Bark, C, Sharma, P., Wang, Y., Baek, Seung Hyub, Lee, S., Ryu, S., Folkman, C H, Paudel, Tula R, Kumar, Amit, Kalinin, Sergei V, Sokolov, A., Tsymbal, E Y, Rzchowski, M, Gruverman, Alexei, & Eom, Professor Chang-Beom. Switchable Induced Polarization in LaAlO3/SrTiO3 Heterostructures. United States. https://doi.org/10.1021/nl3001088
Bark, C, Sharma, P., Wang, Y., Baek, Seung Hyub, Lee, S., Ryu, S., Folkman, C H, Paudel, Tula R, Kumar, Amit, Kalinin, Sergei V, Sokolov, A., Tsymbal, E Y, Rzchowski, M, Gruverman, Alexei, and Eom, Professor Chang-Beom. 2012. "Switchable Induced Polarization in LaAlO3/SrTiO3 Heterostructures". United States. https://doi.org/10.1021/nl3001088.
@article{osti_1039246,
title = {Switchable Induced Polarization in LaAlO3/SrTiO3 Heterostructures},
author = {Bark, C and Sharma, P. and Wang, Y. and Baek, Seung Hyub and Lee, S. and Ryu, S. and Folkman, C H and Paudel, Tula R and Kumar, Amit and Kalinin, Sergei V and Sokolov, A. and Tsymbal, E Y and Rzchowski, M and Gruverman, Alexei and Eom, Professor Chang-Beom},
abstractNote = {Demonstration of a tunable conductivity of the LaAlO3/SrTiO3 interfaces drew significant attention to the development of oxide electronic structures where electronic confinement can be reduced to the nanometer range. While the mechanisms for the conductivity modulation are quite different and include metal insulator phase transition and surface charge writing, generally it is implied that this effect is a result of electrical modification of the LaAlO3 surface (either due to electrochemical dissociation of surface adsorbates or free charge deposition) leading to the change in the twodimensional electron gas (2DEG) density at the LaAlO3/SrTiO3 (LAO/STO) interface. In this paper, using piezoresponse force microscopy we demonstrate a switchable electromechanical response of the LAO overlayer, which we attribute to the motion of oxygen vacancies through the LAO layer thickness. These electrically induced reversible changes in bulk stoichiometry of the LAO layer are a signature of a possible additional mechanism for nanoscale oxide 2DEG control on LAO/STO interfaces.},
doi = {10.1021/nl3001088},
url = {https://www.osti.gov/biblio/1039246}, journal = {Nano Letters},
issn = {1530-6984},
number = 4,
volume = 12,
place = {United States},
year = {Sun Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 2012},
month = {Sun Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 2012}
}