Irradiation-induced amplification of electric fields at oxide interfaces as revealed by correlative DPC-STEM and DFT
Phys. Rev. Materials 10, 105004 – Published 20 October, 2026
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1103/whdx-ywz7
Abstract
Heterointerfaces are ubiquitous in modern devices, found in technologies ranging from microelectronics to structural components for energy applications. Many of these emerging technologies are found in applications that are subject to harsh environments, such as satellites, batteries, and next-generation nuclear reactors. In some scenarios, multiple extreme conditions, such as irradiation and corrosion, act on the material simultaneously. Extending the lifetime of these technologies is dependent on a detailed understanding of how their component materials platforms and interfaces respond in extreme environments, where irradiation and corrosion may couple in unique ways, distinct from corrosion under ambient conditions. Oxides, which form readily over metal underlayers, can act as protective coatings; enhancing the robustness of oxide overlayers to protect underlying metal alloys is a potential avenue towards corrosion mitigation. Here, we study the impact of irradiation-induced nonequilibrium defects on charge segregation and electric fields at and near multi-phase oxide heterointerfaces. We perform a detailed study of irradiated thin film heterostructures using first-principles density functional theory (DFT) electronic structure modeling paired with four-dimensional-scanning transmission electron microscopy (4D-STEM) differential phase contrast (DPC) and electron energy loss spectroscopy (EELS) techniques to measure nanoscale changes in electric fields. Our results show clear evidence that irradiation drives substantial modulation of interfacial electric fields that can be tailored by controlling the atomistic chemical structure of the oxide interface. We show that irradiation can selectively induce built-in electric fields, thereby altering their direction; this suggests a pathway to engineering protective oxide heterostructure overlayers that can electrically control the spatial distribution of defects, with significant implications for the design of corrosion-resistant materials for extreme environments.
