Nanostructures*

Local probes can provide insight into the electronic properties of 2D oxide interfaces (in particular, LaAlO₃/SrTiO₃) that are hard to determine using bulk transport methods. Scanning SQUID microscopy has revealed enhanced transport along ferroelastic domain boundaries [1]. Recently, Frenkel et al showed [2] that local pressure applied to the LAO/STO interface can reveal enhanced transport along ferroelastic domain boundaries. We are interested in resolving electron transport in LaAlO₃/SrTiO₃ nanostructures that are “sketched” [3] using conductive-AFM lithography. We describe experiments performed both at room temperature and at low temperatures (<25 K) using a modified vacuum AFM.
[1] B. Kalisky et al., Nature Materials 12, 1091 (2013).
[2] Y. Frenkel et al., Nature Materials 16, 1203 (2017).
[3] C. Cen et al., Nature Materials 7, 298 (2008).