Exciting new insight into the prototype complex oxide heterointerface: LaAlO3 / SrTiO3 (A Perspective on: L. Qiao, T. C. Droubay, T. C. Kaspar, P. V. Sushko, S. A. Chambers, Surf. Sci. (2011) 1381

This perspective briefly reviews the recent developments in the study of exotic phenomena at complex oxide heterointerfaces – with special attention to results published by L. Qiao, et al. in this edition – on the LaAlO3/SrTiO3 heterointerface. The fundamental mechanisms of the observed phenomena are discussed and the results of the current study are placed in context. The importance of rigorous materials characterization and insight into fundamental limitations of modern synthesis techniques are probed.