Thermally activated recovery of electrical conductivity in LaAlO 3/SrTiO3

Abstract

Patterned structures of LaAlO3/SrTiO3 that exhibit a decrease in their electrical conductivity below 30 K recover their higher conductivity upon warming in a thermally activated process. Two dominant energy barriers Eb are identified: Eb1=0.224±0.003 eV related to conductivity recovery near 70K and Eb2=0.44±0.015 eV related to conductivity recovery near 160K. We discuss possible linkage to structural defects such as dislocations and twin boundaries. © 2013 American Physical Society.