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Description
Epitaxial heterostructures combining superconducting YBa₂Cu₃O₇₋δ (YBCO) and ferroelectric BaTiO₃ (BTO) provide a platform to probe interfacial coupling relevant to tunable oxide and quantum devices. In this study, YBCO and BTO thin films were grown on SrTiO₃ (001) by pulsed laser deposition. X-ray diffraction/reflectometry and atomic force microscopy confirm high-quality, c-axis-oriented epitaxy with smooth, well-defined interfaces. Transport measurements show a reduction of the superconducting transition temperature from ~86 K in single-layer YBCO to ~73 K in YBCO/BTO/YBCO trilayers, consistent with interfacial coupling effects (e.g., strain, oxygen stoichiometry, and charge redistribution) associated with the ferroelectric layer. Piezoelectric force microscopy demonstrates robust, reversible ferroelectric switching in both single-layer and heterostructure films. Neutron (polarized) reflectometry resolves the buried interfaces, confirming structural integrity and indicating a weak induced magnetic response within the heterostructure. Together, these results establish YBCO/BTO heterostructures as versatile platforms for reconfigurable, low-power oxide electronics.
| Field of Condensed Matter | Quantum Materials |
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