Phase engineering in oxides by interfaces

Polaronic Emergent Phases in Manganite-based Heterostructures

Transition metal functional oxides, e.g., perovskite manganites, with strong electron, spin and lattice correlations, are well-known for different phase transitions and field-induced colossal effects at the phase transition. Recently, the interfaces between dissimilar perovskites were shown to be a promising concept for the search of emerging phases with novel functionalities. We demonstrate that the properties of manganite films are effectively controlled by low dimensional emerging phases at intrinsic and extrinsic interfaces and appeared as a result of symmetry breaking. The examples include correlated Jahn–Teller polarons in the phase-separated (La1−yPry)0.7Ca0.3MnO3, electron-rich Jahn–Teller-distorted surface or “dead” layer in La0.7Sr0.3MnO3, electric-field-induced healing of “dead” layer as an origin of resistance switching effect, and high-TC ferromagnetic emerging phase at the SrMnO3/LaMnO3 interface in superlattices. These 2D polaronic phases with short-range electron, spin, and lattice reconstructions could be extremely sensitive to external fields, thus, providing a rational explanation of colossal effects in perovskite manganites.

Physics of SrTiO3-based heterostructures and nanostructures: a review

This review provides a summary of the rich physics expressed within SrTiO3-based heterostructures and nanostructures. The intended audience is researchers who are working in the field of oxides, but also those with different backgrounds (e.g., semiconductor nanostructures). After reviewing the relevant properties of SrTiO3 itself, we will then discuss the basics of SrTiO3-based heterostructures, how they can be grown, and how devices are typically fabricated. Next, we will cover the physics of these heterostructures, including their phase diagram and coupling between the various degrees of freedom. Finally, we will review the rich landscape of quantum transport phenomena, as well as the devices that elicit them.

Conductivity Contrast and Tunneling Charge Transport in the Vortexlike Ferroelectric Domain Patterns of Multiferroic Hexagonal YMnO_{3}

We deduce the intrinsic conductivity properties of the ferroelectric domain walls around the topologically protected domain vortex cores in multiferroic YMnO_{3}. This is achieved by performing a careful equivalent-circuit analysis of dielectric spectra measured in single-crystalline samples with different vortex densities. The conductivity contrast between the bulk domains and the less conducting domain boundaries is revealed to reach up to a factor of 500 at room temperature, depending on the sample preparation. Tunneling of localized defect charge carriers is the dominant charge-transport process in the domain walls that are depleted of mobile charge carriers. This work demonstrates that, via equivalent-circuit analysis, dielectric spectroscopy can provide valuable information on the intrinsic charge-transport properties of ferroelectric domain walls, which is of high relevance for the design of new domain-wall-based microelectronic devices.