Atomic and electronic structure of the SrNbO{sub 3}/SrNbO{sub 3.4} interface

We have determined the atomic-scale structure of the SrNbO{sub 3}/SrNbO{sub 3.4} interface and related it to the electronic structure. Experimentally, transmission electron microscopy observations reveal that SrNbO{sub 3} and SrNbO{sub 3.4} show orientation relationships [1{sup ¯}10]{sub SrNbO{sub 3}} // [010]{sub SrNbO{sub 3{sub .{sub 4}}}} and (110){sub SrNbO{sub 3}} // (001){sub SrNbO{sub 3{sub .{sub 4}}}}, and that their interface is coherent and atomically abrupt. Theoretically, this interface is found to be strongly anisotropic in electronic structure, and takes on quasi-one-dimensional nature. We also find that the interface impacts greatly the electron occupation of Nb d orbitals, particularly d{sub z}{sup 2} orbital. The combined study represents a relevant advance in atomically bridging structures to properties of heterointerfaces.