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Surface Conduction on Insulating BaTiO3 Crystal Suggesting an Intrinsic Surface Electron Layer

Yukio Watanabe, Motochika Okano, and Akihiro Masuda
Phys. Rev. Lett. 86, 332 – Published 8 January 2001
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Abstract

We report conduction measurements on the clean, free surface of transparent insulating BaTiO3 single crystals in high vacuum. We find that the insulating BaTiO3 crystals exhibit surface conductance that is dependent on the spontaneous polarization, whereas no conduction perpendicular to the surface is observed. The surface conduction shows semimetallic temperature dependence and persists down to at least 100 K. The observations suggest a two-dimensional electron on a clean, free ferroelectric surface that may be regarded as a ferroelectric metal. The results have important implications for understandings of the fundamental properties of ferroelectrics, the size effect, and ferroelectric devices.

  • Received 10 July 2000

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.86.332

©2001 American Physical Society

Authors & Affiliations

Yukio Watanabe, Motochika Okano, and Akihiro Masuda

  • Kyushu Institute of Technology, Department of Electrical Engineering, Sensui 1-1, Tobata, Kitakyushu, Fukuoka 804-8550, Japan

See Also

Conductivity is Skin Deep

Phys. Rev. Focus 7, 1 (2001)

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Vol. 86, Iss. 2 — 8 January 2001

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