Abstract
We investigate the formation mechanism of oxygen vacancies and the properties of charge carriers induced in the $n$-type interface of a LaAlO${}_{3}$ (LAO) overlayer on SrTiO${}_{3}$(001) (STO) by carrying out density-functional-theory (DFT) calculations. We find that the formation of a low concentration of oxygen vacancies is dominated by the coupling between oxygen vacancies and the polar electric field in LAO. Oxygen vacancies on the LAO surface, which maximally reduce the electrostatic energy in LAO, are energetically the most stable, and most of the charge carriers induced by the surface vacancies are confined to the interface, forming a two-dimensional electron gas. We also verify that a high concentration of oxygen vacancies in the STO substrate could give rise to a three-dimensional electron gas. In addition, we demonstrate that the band profile at the interface is mainly determined by the concentration of the surface oxygen vacancies.
Published Version
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Disclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.