Effect of Ferroelectricity on Electron Transport in Pt/BaTiO₃/Pt Tunnel Junctions

Authors

Julian P. Velev, University of Nebraska-LincolnFollow
Chun-gang Duan, University of Nebraska-LincolnFollow
Kirill D. Belashchenko, University of Nebraska-LincolnFollow
Sitaram Jaswal, University of NebraskaFollow
Evgeny Y. Tsymbal, University of Nebraska-LincolnFollow

Date of this Version

3-30-2007

Comments

Published by American Physical Society. Phys. Rev. Lett. 98, 137201 (2007). http://prl.aps.org. Copyright © 2007 American Physical Society. Permission to use.

Abstract

Based on first-principles calculations, we demonstrate the impact of the electric polarization on electron transport in ferroelectric tunnel junctions (FTJs). Using a Pt/BaTiO₃ /Pt FTJ as a model system, we show that the polarization of the BaTiO₃ barrier leads to a substantial drop in the tunneling conductance due to changes in the electronic structure driven by ferroelectric displacements. We find a sizable change in the transmission probability across the Pt/BaTiO₃ interface with polarization reversal, a signature of the electroresistance effect. These results reveal exciting prospects that FTJs offer as resistive switches in nanoscale electronic devices.