Light triggers formation of high-mobility electron gas in oxide interfaces
by Clarence Oxford
Paris, France (SPX) Oct 11, 2025

A CNRS-led international team has uncovered a way to generate an electron gas - typically found in LED screens - simply by shining light on a layered oxide material. When the illumination ceases, the electron gas vanishes. This reversible effect at the intersection of optics and electronics marks a step toward components that could one day be operated entirely by light.

Such light-controlled devices could revolutionize electronics by offering faster, more energy-efficient operation. For instance, optical transistors may reduce by up to one-third the number of electrical contacts required on a processor chip, saving billions of connections and streamlining circuitry.

The study also points to hybrid photonic-electronic technologies such as ultra-sensitive optical detectors, where light dramatically amplifies current flow - up to 100,000 times greater than under dark conditions for the same voltage.

Researchers achieved the breakthrough through atomic-level precision. They fine-tuned the atomic arrangement at the oxide interface, used atomic-scale imaging to observe behavior under illumination, and employed theoretical modelling to map the motion of electrons triggered by light.

Research Report:Giant photoconductance at infinite-layer nickelate/SrTiO3 interfaces via an optically induced high-mobility electron gas.

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