Interface surprises may motivate novel oxide electronic devices

Complex oxides have long tantalized the materials science community for their promise in next-generation energy and information technologies. Complex oxide crystals combine oxygen atoms with assorted metals to produce unusual and very desirable properties. Because their electrons interact strongly with their environments, complex oxides are versatile, existing as insulators, metals, magnets, and superconductors. They can tightly couple diverse physical properties, such as stress and strain, magn...