{
  "abstract": "Oxide capping layers are widely used to protect and stabilize thin-film heterostructures, yet their role in governing phase-transition kinetics remains largely unexplored. Here, we uncover the kinetic function of few-nanometer-thick SrTiO$_3$ (STO) capping layers in controlling oxidation and reduction processes, using real-time in situ optical spectroscopic ellipsometry. We show that oxygen diffusion through the nanoscale capping layer constitutes the rate-limiting step, giving rise to diffusion-controlled phase transitions in the underlying materials. As a result, both capping-layer thickness and oxygen partial pressure provide effective handles to tune phase transition temperatures. Quantitative analysis yields an activation energy of $E_A$ = 0.64 $\\pm$0.06 eV for oxygen diffusion through STO, highlighting its suitability for precise control of redox reactions in diverse material systems. These results establish oxide capping layers as active kinetic regulators of redox-driven phase transitions and offer a general framework for engineering redox dynamics in complex oxide heterostructures.",
  "abstract_shown": true,
  "affiliations": [],
  "article_type": null,
  "arxiv": "2610.31871",
  "author_total": 5,
  "authors": [
    {
      "name": "Pooya Abdollahi"
    },
    {
      "name": "Woo Jin Kim"
    },
    {
      "name": "Keaghan Knight"
    },
    {
      "name": "Harold Y. Hwang"
    },
    {
      "name": "Ambrose Seo"
    }
  ],
  "bibtex": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/42pnahgmvtyan.bib",
  "cited_by": 0,
  "doi": "10.48550/arxiv.2610.31871",
  "fulltext_url": null,
  "id": "42pnahgmvtyan",
  "issns": [],
  "landing_url": "https://arxiv.org/abs/2610.31871",
  "language": null,
  "licence": "CC-BY-4.0",
  "licence_label": "CC BY 4.0",
  "licence_source": "article",
  "licence_url": "http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/",
  "metadata_licence": "CC0-1.0",
  "native_subjects": [
    [
      "arxiv",
      "cond-mat.mes-hall"
    ],
    [
      "arxiv",
      "cond-mat.mtrl-sci"
    ],
    [
      "arxiv",
      "cond-mat.other"
    ],
    [
      "arxiv",
      "cond-mat.str-el"
    ],
    [
      "arxiv",
      "physics.chem-ph"
    ],
    [
      "openalex",
      "2505|Electronic and Structural Properties of Oxides"
    ]
  ],
  "openalex": "W7223687155",
  "pdf_url": "https://arxiv.org/pdf/2610.31871",
  "pmcid": null,
  "pmid": null,
  "published": "2026-10-22",
  "publisher": null,
  "ris": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/42pnahgmvtyan.ris",
  "sources": [
    {
      "first_seen": "2026-10-30T12:35:15Z",
      "native_id": "2610.31871",
      "source": "arxiv",
      "url": "https://arxiv.org/abs/2610.31871"
    }
  ],
  "subjects": [
    {
      "field": "chemistry",
      "origin": "arxiv:physics.chem-ph",
      "subfield": "physical"
    },
    {
      "field": "physics",
      "origin": "arxiv:cond-mat.mes-hall",
      "subfield": "condensed-matter"
    }
  ],
  "title": "Strontium Titanate Capping Layers as Kinetic Regulators of Redox Phase Transitions in Oxide Heterostructures",
  "title_text": "Strontium Titanate Capping Layers as Kinetic Regulators of Redox Phase Transitions in Oxide Heterostructures",
  "type": "preprint",
  "updated_at": "2026-10-30T12:35:15Z",
  "url": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/42pnahgmvtyan",
  "venue": "arXiv",
  "versions": []
}