title: Sketched oxide single-electron transistor.
abstract: Devices that confine and process single electrons represent an important scaling limit of electronics. Such devices have been realized in a variety of materials and exhibit remarkable electronic, optical and spintronic properties. Here, we use an atomic force microscope tip to reversibly 'sketch' single-electron transistors by controlling a metal-insulator transition at the interface of two oxides. In these devices, single electrons tunnel resonantly between source and drain electrodes through a conducting oxide island with a diameter of ∼1.5 nm. We demonstrate control over the number of electrons on the island using bottom- and side-gate electrodes, and observe hysteresis in electron occupation that is attributed to ferroelectricity within the oxide heterostructure. These single-electron devices may find use as ultradense non-volatile memories, nanoscale hybrid piezoelectric and charge sensors, as well as building blocks in quantum information processing and simulation platforms.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15260, USA.
authors.forename: Guanglei
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Cheng
authors.forename: Pablo F
authors.initials: PF
authors.lastname: Siles
authors.forename: Feng
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Bi
authors.forename: Cheng
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Cen
authors.forename: Daniela F
authors.initials: DF
authors.lastname: Bogorin
authors.forename: Chung Wung
authors.initials: CW
authors.lastname: Bark
authors.forename: Chad M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Folkman
authors.forename: Jae-Wan
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: Chang-Beom
authors.initials: CB
authors.lastname: Eom
authors.forename: Gilberto
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Medeiros-Ribeiro
authors.forename: Jeremy
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Levy
mesh_terms: D025802:Electric Capacitance; D004553:Electric Conductivity; D004563:Electrochemistry / Q000295:instrumentation*; D004566:Electrodes; D004581:Electronics / Q000295:instrumentation; D004583:Electrons; D004867:Equipment Design; D036103:Nanotechnology / Q000295:instrumentation*; D010087:Oxides / Q000737:chemistry*; D045663:Quantum Dots; D013324:Strontium / Q000737:chemistry*; D013696:Temperature; D014025:Titanium / Q000737:chemistry*; D014173:Transistors, Electronic
chemical_list: D010087:Oxides; D014025:Titanium; C119252:strontium titanium oxide; D013324:Strontium