Anomalous dielectric response at intermixed oxide heterointerfaces

TL;DR

This paper investigates how atomic intermixing at oxide heterointerfaces influences charge distribution and polar distortions, revealing an anomalous dielectric response that could enable dissipationless oxide electronic devices.

Contribution

It demonstrates that intermixing shifts charge peaks and alters polar distortions, leading to an anomalous dielectric behavior linked to local negative differential capacitance.

Findings

Intermixing moves charge distribution away from the interface.

Polar distortions are reoriented without significantly affecting the electric field.

The observed response resembles a transient phase transition in ferroelectrics.

Abstract

Two-dimensional charge carrier accumulation at oxide heterointerfaces presents a paradigm shift for oxide electronics. Like a capacitor, interfacial charge buildup couples to an electric field across the dielectric medium. To prevent the so-called polar catastrophe, several charge screening mechanisms emerge, including polar distortions and interfacial intermixing which reduce the sharpness of the interface. Here, we examine how atomic intermixing at oxide interfaces affect the balance between polar distortions and electric potential across the dielectric medium. We find that intermixing moves the peak charge distribution away from the oxide/oxide interface; thereby changing the direction of polar distortions away from this boundary with minimal effect on the electric field. This opposing electric field and polar distortions is equivalent to the transient phase transition tipping point observed in double well ferroelectrics; resulting in an anomalous dielectric response -- a possible signature of local negative differential capacitance, with implications for designing dissipationless oxide electronics.