Dichotomy of the Photo Induced 2-Dimensional Electron Gas on SrTiO$_3$ Surface Terminations

Abstract

Oxide materials are important candidates for the next generation of electronics due to a wide array of desired properties which they can exhibit alone or when combined with other materials. While SrTiO$_3$ (STO) is often considered a prototypical oxide, it too hosts a wide array of unusual properties including a two dimensional electron gas (2DEG) which can form at the surface when exposed to UV light. Using layer-by-layer growth of high quality STO films, we show that the 2DEG only forms with the SrO termination and not with the TiO$_2$ termination, contrary to expectation. This behavior is similarly seen in BaTiO$_3$ (BTO), in which the 2DEG is only observed for BaO terminated films. These results will allow for a deeper understanding, and better control, of the electronic structure of titanate films, substrates and heterostructures.