title: Effect of ferroelectricity on electron transport in Pt/BaTiO3/Pt tunnel junctions.
abstract: Based on first-principles calculations, we demonstrate the impact of the electric polarization on electron transport in ferroelectric tunnel junctions (FTJs). Using a Pt/BaTiO3/Pt FTJ as a model system, we show that the polarization of the BaTiO3 barrier leads to a substantial drop in the tunneling conductance due to changes in the electronic structure driven by ferroelectric displacements. We find a sizable change in the transmission probability across the Pt/BaTiO3 interface with polarization reversal, a signature of the electroresistance effect. These results reveal exciting prospects that FTJs offer as resistive switches in nanoscale electronic devices.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physics and Astronomy, Nebraska Center for Materials and Nanoscience, University of Nebraska, Lincoln, NE 68588, USA.
authors.forename: J P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Velev
authors.forename: Chun-Gang
authors.initials: CG
authors.lastname: Duan
authors.forename: K D
authors.initials: KD
authors.lastname: Belashchenko
authors.forename: S S
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Jaswal
authors.forename: E Y
authors.initials: EY
authors.lastname: Tsymbal