Interface Physics in Complex Oxide Heterostructures

Abstract

Complex transition metal oxides span a wide range of crystalline structures and play host to an incredible variety of physical phenomena. High dielectric permittivities, piezo-, pyro-, and ferroelectricity are just a few of the functionalities offered by this class of materials, while the potential for applications of the more exotic properties like high temperature superconductivity and colossal magnetoresistance is still waiting to be fully exploited. With recent advances in deposition techniques, the structural quality of oxide heterostructures now rivals that of the best conventional semiconductors, taking oxide electronics to a new level. Such heterostructures have enabled the fabrication of artificial multifunctional materials. At the same time they have exposed a wealth of phenomena at the boundaries where compounds with different structural instabilities and electronic properties meet, giving unprecedented access to new physics emerging at oxide interfaces. Here we highlight some of these exciting new interface phenomena.

Interface superconductivity

“…Zubko et al [21] and H. Y. Hwang et al [22]. This new research area has been developing rapidly after the seminal work of Akira Othomo and Harold Hwang who studied LaTiO 3 /SrTiO 3 -an interface between a Mott and a band insulator [23] -and LaAlO 3 /SrTiO 3 , an interface between two band insulators [3].…”

Ferroelectric Field Effect Control of Magnetism in Multiferroic Heterostructures

“…These opportunities are a direct consequence of reduced dimensionality and/or interfacial phenomena from proximity effects between dissimilar materials Zubko et al (2011). Progress in growth techniques Chambers (2010); Eckstein & Bozovic (1995); Martin et al (2010); McKee et al (1998); Posadas et al (2007); Reiner et al (2009) ;Schlom et al (1992); Vaz et al (2009a); Vrejoiu et al (2008), nanoscale characterization tools Zhu (2005), and first principles calculations Cohen (2000); Fennie (2008); Picozzi & Ederer (2009); Rabe & Ghosez (2007); Spaldin & Pickett (2003); have been instrumental to our present ability to control matter down to the atomic scale and to fabricate nanoscale device structures with the potential for technological applications.…”

Potential Fluctuations at Low Temperatures in Mesoscopic-Scale SmTiO3/SrTiO3/SmTiO3 Quantum Well Structures

“…9 The possibility for rich interplay between charge, spin, and orbital ordering makes oxide heterostructure systems excellent tools in the study of correlation phenomena with wide-ranging implications, from understanding high-T c superconductivity 10 to engineering materials with desirable functional properties. [11][12][13][14] Many aspects of these and related oxide heterostructures remain, however, only partially understood, including the nature of quantum coherence in transport, and relationship of coherence with other effects such as spinorbit coupling, localization (both weak and strong), and charge and magnetic ordering. …”