IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/nat/natcom/v16y2025i1d10.1038_s41467-025-59258-4.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Duality and degeneracy lifting in two-dimensional electron liquids on SrTiO3(001)

Author

Listed:
  • Igor Sokolović

    (TU Wien)

  • Eduardo B. Guedes

    (Paul Scherrer Institut)

  • Thomas P. Waas

    (Institute of Condensed Matter and Nanosciences, Université catholique de Louvain)

  • Fei Guo

    (École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne)

  • Samuel Poncé

    (Institute of Condensed Matter and Nanosciences, Université catholique de Louvain
    WEL Research Institute)

  • Craig Polley

    (Lund University)

  • Michael Schmid

    (TU Wien)

  • Ulrike Diebold

    (TU Wien)

  • Milan Radović

    (Paul Scherrer Institut)

  • Martin Setvín

    (TU Wien
    Faculty of Mathematics and Physics, Charles University)

  • J. Hugo Dil

    (Paul Scherrer Institut
    École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne)

Abstract

Two-dimensional electron liquids (2DELs) have increasing technological relevance for ultrafast electronics and spintronics, yet significant gaps in their fundamental understanding are exemplified on the prototypical SrTiO3. We correlate the exact SrTiO3(001) surface structure with distinct 2DELs through combined microscopic angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy and non-contact atomic force microscopy on truly bulk-terminated surfaces that alleviate structural uncertainties inherent to this long-studied system. The SrO termination is shown to develop a 2DEL following the creation of oxygen vacancies, unlike the intrinsically metallic TiO2 termination. Differences in degeneracy of the 2DELs, with nearly the same band filling and identical band bending, are assigned to polar distortions of the Ti atoms in combination with spin order, supported with the extraction of fundamental electron-phonon coupling strength. These results not only resolve the ambiguities regarding 2DELs on SrTiO3 thus far, but also pave the way to manipulating band filling and spin order in oxide 2DELs in general.

Suggested Citation

  • Igor Sokolović & Eduardo B. Guedes & Thomas P. Waas & Fei Guo & Samuel Poncé & Craig Polley & Michael Schmid & Ulrike Diebold & Milan Radović & Martin Setvín & J. Hugo Dil, 2025. "Duality and degeneracy lifting in two-dimensional electron liquids on SrTiO3(001)," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 16(1), pages 1-9, December.
  • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:16:y:2025:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-025-59258-4
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-025-59258-4
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-025-59258-4
    File Function: Abstract
    Download Restriction: no

    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1038/s41467-025-59258-4?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Jinsol Seo & Hyungwoo Lee & Kitae Eom & Jinho Byun & Taewon Min & Jaekwang Lee & Kyoungjun Lee & Chang-Beom Eom & Sang Ho Oh, 2024. "Feld-induced modulation of two-dimensional electron gas at LaAlO3/SrTiO3 interface by polar distortion of LaAlO3," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-11, December.
    2. Chaoyu Chen & José Avila & Emmanouil Frantzeskakis & Anna Levy & Maria C. Asensio, 2015. "Observation of a two-dimensional liquid of Fröhlich polarons at the bare SrTiO3 surface," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 6(1), pages 1-8, December.
    3. C. Cancellieri & A. S. Mishchenko & U. Aschauer & A. Filippetti & C. Faber & O. S. Barišić & V. A. Rogalev & T. Schmitt & N. Nagaosa & V. N. Strocov, 2016. "Polaronic metal state at the LaAlO3/SrTiO3 interface," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 7(1), pages 1-8, April.
    4. C. Cancellieri & A. S. Mishchenko & U. Aschauer & A. Filippetti & C. Faber & O. S. Barišić & V. A. Rogalev & T. Schmitt & N. Nagaosa & V. N. Strocov, 2016. "Correction: Corrigendum: Polaronic metal state at the LaAlO3/SrTiO3 interface," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 7(1), pages 1-1, April.
    5. Sara Varotto & Annika Johansson & Börge Göbel & Luis M. Vicente-Arche & Srijani Mallik & Julien Bréhin & Raphaël Salazar & François Bertran & Patrick Le Fèvre & Nicolas Bergeal & Julien Rault & Ingrid, 2022. "Direct visualization of Rashba-split bands and spin/orbital-charge interconversion at KTaO3 interfaces," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 13(1), pages 1-9, December.
    6. J. Krempaský & L. Šmejkal & S. W. D’Souza & M. Hajlaoui & G. Springholz & K. Uhlířová & F. Alarab & P. C. Constantinou & V. Strocov & D. Usanov & W. R. Pudelko & R. González-Hernández & A. Birk Hellen, 2024. "Altermagnetic lifting of Kramers spin degeneracy," Nature, Nature, vol. 626(7999), pages 517-522, February.
    7. A. F. Santander-Syro & O. Copie & T. Kondo & F. Fortuna & S. Pailhès & R. Weht & X. G. Qiu & F. Bertran & A. Nicolaou & A. Taleb-Ibrahimi & P. Le Fèvre & G. Herranz & M. Bibes & N. Reyren & Y. Apertet, 2011. "Two-dimensional electron gas with universal subbands at the surface of SrTiO3," Nature, Nature, vol. 469(7329), pages 189-193, January.
    8. Michele Reticcioli & Zhichang Wang & Michael Schmid & Dominik Wrana & Lynn A. Boatner & Ulrike Diebold & Martin Setvin & Cesare Franchini, 2022. "Competing electronic states emerging on polar surfaces," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 13(1), pages 1-7, December.
    9. A. Ohtomo & H. Y. Hwang, 2004. "A high-mobility electron gas at the LaAlO3/SrTiO3 heterointerface," Nature, Nature, vol. 427(6973), pages 423-426, January.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. L. Kang & X. Du & J. S. Zhou & X. Gu & Y. J. Chen & R. Z. Xu & Q. Q. Zhang & S. C. Sun & Z. X. Yin & Y. W. Li & D. Pei & J. Zhang & R. K. Gu & Z. G. Wang & Z. K. Liu & R. Xiong & J. Shi & Y. Zhang & Y, 2021. "Band-selective Holstein polaron in Luttinger liquid material A0.3MoO3 (A = K, Rb)," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 12(1), pages 1-7, December.
    2. Xiaoyang Chen & Tianlun Yu & Yuan Liu & Yanqiu Sun & Minyinan Lei & Nan Guo & Yu Fan & Xingtian Sun & Meng Zhang & Fatima Alarab & Vladimir N. Strocov & Yilin Wang & Tao Zhou & Xinyi Liu & Fanjin Lu &, 2024. "Orientation-dependent electronic structure in interfacial superconductors LaAlO3/KTaO3," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-9, December.
    3. J. W. Lee & K. Eom & T. R. Paudel & B. Wang & H. Lu & H. X. Huyan & S. Lindemann & S. Ryu & H. Lee & T. H. Kim & Y. Yuan & J. A. Zorn & S. Lei & W. P. Gao & T. Tybell & V. Gopalan & X. Q. Pan & A. Gru, 2021. "In-plane quasi-single-domain BaTiO3 via interfacial symmetry engineering," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 12(1), pages 1-8, December.
    4. Shingo Toyoda & Manfred Fiebig & Lea Forster & Taka-hisa Arima & Yoshinori Tokura & Naoki Ogawa, 2021. "Writing of strain-controlled multiferroic ribbons into MnWO4," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 12(1), pages 1-6, December.
    5. Rafael González-Hernández & Philipp Ritzinger & Karel Výborný & Jakub Železný & Aurélien Manchon, 2024. "Non-relativistic torque and Edelstein effect in non-collinear magnets," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-10, December.
    6. Julian Barnett & Konstantin G. Wirth & Richard Hentrich & Yasin C. Durmaz & Marc-André Rose & Felix Gunkel & Thomas Taubner, 2025. "Low temperature near-field fingerprint spectroscopy of 2D electron systems in oxide heterostructures and beyond," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 16(1), pages 1-9, December.
    7. Felix Küster & Sascha Brinker & Samir Lounis & Stuart S. P. Parkin & Paolo Sessi, 2021. "Long range and highly tunable interaction between local spins coupled to a superconducting condensate," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 12(1), pages 1-8, December.
    8. Yuhao Hong & Long Wei & Qinghua Zhang & Zhixiong Deng & Xiaxia Liao & Yangbo Zhou & Lei Wang & Tongrui Li & Junhua Liu & Wen Xiao & Shilin Hu & Lingfei Wang & Lin Li & Mark Huijben & Yulin Gan & Kai C, 2023. "A broad-spectrum gas sensor based on correlated two-dimensional electron gas," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-7, December.
    9. Sonka Reimers & Lukas Odenbreit & Libor Šmejkal & Vladimir N. Strocov & Procopios Constantinou & Anna B. Hellenes & Rodrigo Jaeschke Ubiergo & Warlley H. Campos & Venkata K. Bharadwaj & Atasi Chakrabo, 2024. "Direct observation of altermagnetic band splitting in CrSb thin films," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-7, December.
    10. Cody A. Dennett & Narayan Poudel & Paul J. Simmonds & Ashutosh Tiwari & David H. Hurley & Krzysztof Gofryk, 2022. "Towards actinide heterostructure synthesis and science," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 13(1), pages 1-4, December.
    11. Marti Checa & Addis S. Fuhr & Changhyo Sun & Rama Vasudevan & Maxim Ziatdinov & Ilia Ivanov & Seok Joon Yun & Kai Xiao & Alp Sehirlioglu & Yunseok Kim & Pankaj Sharma & Kyle P. Kelley & Neus Domingo &, 2023. "High-speed mapping of surface charge dynamics using sparse scanning Kelvin probe force microscopy," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-12, December.
    12. Sara Varotto & Annika Johansson & Börge Göbel & Luis M. Vicente-Arche & Srijani Mallik & Julien Bréhin & Raphaël Salazar & François Bertran & Patrick Le Fèvre & Nicolas Bergeal & Julien Rault & Ingrid, 2022. "Direct visualization of Rashba-split bands and spin/orbital-charge interconversion at KTaO3 interfaces," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 13(1), pages 1-9, December.
    13. Xu Zhang & Tongshuai Zhu & Shuai Zhang & Zhongqiang Chen & Anke Song & Chong Zhang & Rongzheng Gao & Wei Niu & Yequan Chen & Fucong Fei & Yilin Tai & Guoan Li & Binghui Ge & Wenkai Lou & Jie Shen & Ha, 2024. "Light-induced giant enhancement of nonreciprocal transport at KTaO3-based interfaces," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-9, December.
    14. Pooja Sindhu & K. S. Ananthram & Anil Jain & Kartick Tarafder & Nirmalya Ballav, 2022. "Charge-transfer interface of insulating metal-organic frameworks with metallic conduction," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 13(1), pages 1-10, December.
    15. Yue Yu & Han Gyeol Suh & Mercè Roig & Daniel F. Agterberg, 2025. "Altermagnetism from coincident Van Hove singularities: application to κ-Cl," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 16(1), pages 1-8, December.
    16. B. Arnoldi & S. L. Zachritz & S. Hedwig & M. Aeschlimann & O. L. A. Monti & B. Stadtmüller, 2024. "Revealing hidden spin polarization in centrosymmetric van der Waals materials on ultrafast timescales," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-8, December.
    17. Jinsol Seo & Hyungwoo Lee & Kitae Eom & Jinho Byun & Taewon Min & Jaekwang Lee & Kyoungjun Lee & Chang-Beom Eom & Sang Ho Oh, 2024. "Feld-induced modulation of two-dimensional electron gas at LaAlO3/SrTiO3 interface by polar distortion of LaAlO3," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-11, December.
    18. Guanghui Cheng & Mohammad Mushfiqur Rahman & Zhiping He & Andres Llacsahuanga Allcca & Avinash Rustagi & Kirstine Aggerbeck Stampe & Yanglin Zhu & Shaohua Yan & Shangjie Tian & Zhiqiang Mao & Hechang , 2022. "Emergence of electric-field-tunable interfacial ferromagnetism in 2D antiferromagnet heterostructures," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 13(1), pages 1-6, December.
    19. Yixi Zhou & Adrien Waelchli & Margherita Boselli & Iris Crassee & Adrien Bercher & Weiwei Luo & Jiahua Duan & J.L.M. Mechelen & Dirk Marel & Jérémie Teyssier & Carl Willem Rischau & Lukas Korosec & St, 2023. "Thermal and electrostatic tuning of surface phonon-polaritons in LaAlO3/SrTiO3 heterostructures," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-9, December.
    20. Chenchao Xu & Siqi Wu & Guo-Xiang Zhi & Guanghan Cao & Jianhui Dai & Chao Cao & Xiaoqun Wang & Hai-Qing Lin, 2025. "Altermagnetic ground state in distorted Kagome metal CsCr3Sb5," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 16(1), pages 1-8, December.

    More about this item

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:16:y:2025:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-025-59258-4. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Sonal Shukla or Springer Nature Abstracting and Indexing (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.nature.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.