Polarization-control of the potential barrier at the electrode interfaces in epitaxial ferroelectric thin films.
Electrode interface is a key element in controlling the macroscopic electrical properties of the ferroelectric capacitors based on thin films. In the case of epitaxial ferroelectrics, the electrode interface is essential in controlling the leakage current and the polarization switching, two important elements in the read/write processes of nonvolatile memories. However, the relation between the polarization bound charges and the electronic properties of the electrode interfaces is not yet well understood. Here we show that polarization charges are controlling the height of the potential barriers at the electrode interfaces in the case of Pb(Zr,Ti)O3 and BaTiO3 epitaxial films. The results suggest that the height is set to a value allowing rapid compensation of the depolarization field during the polarization switching, being almost independent of the metals used for electrodes. This general behavior open a new perspective in engineering interface properties and designing new devices based on epitaxial ferroelectrics.
National Institute of Materials Physics, Atomistilor 105 bis, Magurele 077125, Romania.
Ioana
I
Pintilie
Cristian Mihail
CM
Teodorescu
Corneliu
C
Ghica
Cristina
C
Chirila
Andra Georgia
AG
Boni
Luminita
L
Hrib
Iuliana
I
Pasuk
Raluca
R
Negrea
Nicoleta
N
Apostol
Lucian
L
Pintilie