Naslov
Mapping the spatial distribution of charge carriers in LaAlO3/SrTiO3 heterostructures

Autori
Basletić, Mario ; Maurice, Jean-Luc ; Carrétéro, C. ; Herranz, Gervasi ; Copie, Olivier ; Bibes, Manuel ; Jacquet, Éric ; Bouzehouane, Karim ; Fusil, Stephen ; Barthélémy, Agnes

Izvornik
Nature Materials (1476-1122) 7 (2008), 8; 621-625

Vrsta, podvrsta i kategorija rada
Radovi u časopisima, članak, znanstveni

Ključne riječi
electronic transport in interface structures; diffusion of impurities; conducting-tip atomic force microscopy; pulsed laser depostition

Sažetak
At the interface between complex insulating oxides, novel phases with interesting properties may occur, such as the metallic state reported in the LaAlO3/SrTiO3 system. Although this state has been predicted and reported to be confined at the interface, some studies indicate a much broader spatial extension, thereby questioning its origin. Here, we provide for the first time a direct determination of the carrier density profile of this system through resistance profile mappings collected in cross-section LaAlO3/SrTiO3 samples with a conducting-tip atomic force microscope (CT-AFM). We find that, depending on specific growth protocols, the spatial extension of the high-mobility electron gas can be varied from hundreds of micrometres into SrTiO3 to a few nanometres next to the LaAlO3/SrTiO3 interface. Our results emphasize the potential of CT-AFM as a novel tool to characterize complex oxide interfaces and provide us with a definitive and conclusive way to reconcile the body of experimental data in this system.

Izvorni jezik
Engleski

Znanstvena područja
Fizika

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