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arXiv · 1112.3532

Intrinsic origin of the two-dimensional electron gas at polar oxide interfaces

M. L. Reinle-Schmitt·C. Cancellieri·D. Li·D. Fontaine·M. Medarde·E. Pomjakushina·C. W. Schneider·S. Gariglio·Ph. Ghosez·J. -M. Triscone·P. R. Willmott
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Abstract

The predictions of the polar catastrophe scenario to explain the occurrence of a metallic interface in heterostructures of the solid solution(LaAlO$_3$)$_{x}$(SrTiO$_3$)$_{1-x}$ (LASTO:x) grown on (001) SrTiO$_3$ were investigated as a function of film thickness and $x$. The films are insulating for the thinnest layers, but above a critical thickness, $t_c$, the interface exhibits a constant finite conductivity which depends in a predictable manner on $x$. It is shown that $t_c$ scales with the strength of the built-in electric field of the polar material, and is immediately understandable in terms of an electronic reconstruction at the nonpolar-polar interface. These results thus conclusively identify the polar-catastrophe model as the intrinsic origin of the doping at this polar oxide interface.

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M. L. Reinle-Schmitt, C. Cancellieri, D. Li, D. Fontaine, M. Medarde, E. Pomjakushina, C. W. Schneider, S. Gariglio, Ph. Ghosez, J. -M. Triscone, P. R. Willmott. 2011-12-15. Intrinsic origin of the two-dimensional electron gas at polar oxide interfaces. https://arxiv.org/abs/1112.3532

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