Interface phase and tuning of polarization in metal-ferroelectric junctions: A theoretical study

MATIAS NUNEZ AND MARCO BUONGIORNO NARDELLI

APPLIED PHYSICS LETTERS

Año: 2008 vol. 92 p. 252903 - 252907

0003-6951

Using first principles calculations, we have studied how the control of the interface structure inmetal-ferroelectric junctions can be used to tune the polarization of the ferroelectric film. Using aPt/BaTiO3 / Pt as a prototypical system, we show that the polarization of the oxide can be tuned bythe introduction of an interface layer of a different metal and that this interface effect varies with thethickness of the ferroelectric film. These results can be easily interpreted in terms of the localelectronic structure of the interface and provide a phenomenological criterion for choosing the metalintralayer in order to obtain the desired polarization.