Anisotropic two-dimensional electron gas at the LaAlO3/SrTiO3 (110) interface
Journal article, 2013

The observation of a high-mobility two-dimensional electron gas between two insulating complex oxides, especially LaAlO3/SrTiO3, has enhanced the potential of oxides for electronics. The occurrence of this conductivity is believed to be driven by polarization discontinuity, leading to an electronic reconstruction. In this scenario, the crystal orientation has an important role and no conductivity would be expected, for example, for the interface between LaAlO3 and (110)-oriented SrTiO3, which should not have a polarization discontinuity. Here we report the observation of unexpected conductivity at the LaAlO3/SrTiO3 interface prepared on (110)-oriented SrTiO3, with a LaAlO3-layer thickness-dependent metal-insulator transition. Density functional theory calculation reveals that electronic reconstruction, and thus conductivity, is still possible at this (110) interface by considering the energetically favourable (110) interface structure, that is, buckled TiO2/LaO, in which the polarization discontinuity is still present. The conductivity was further found to be strongly anisotropic along the different crystallographic directions with potential for anisotropic superconductivity and magnetism, leading to possible new physics and applications.

Author

A. Annadi

National University of Singapore (NUS)

Q. Zhang

Japan Science and Technology Agency

Yancheng Institute of Technology

RIKEN

X. R. Wang

National University of Singapore (NUS)

Nikolina Tuzla

Chalmers, Applied Physics, Eva Olsson Group

K. Gopinadhan

National University of Singapore (NUS)

W. M. Lu

National University of Singapore (NUS)

A. R. Barman

National University of Singapore (NUS)

Z. Q. Liu

National University of Singapore (NUS)

A. Srivastava

National University of Singapore (NUS)

S. Saha

National University of Singapore (NUS)

Y. L. Zhao

National University of Singapore (NUS)

S. W. Zeng

National University of Singapore (NUS)

S. Dhar

National University of Singapore (NUS)

Eva Olsson

Chalmers, Applied Physics, Eva Olsson Group

B. Gu

Japan Atomic Energy Agency

Japan Science and Technology Agency

S. Yunoki

RIKEN

Japan Science and Technology Agency

S. Maekawa

Japan Science and Technology Agency

Japan Atomic Energy Agency

H. Hilgenkamp

Leiden University

University of Twente

T. Venkatesan

National University of Singapore (NUS)

Ariando

National University of Singapore (NUS)

Nature Communications

2041-1723 (ISSN) 20411723 (eISSN)

Vol. 4 1838

Subject Categories

Other Engineering and Technologies

DOI

10.1038/ncomms2804

More information

Latest update

3/21/2023