Quantification of internal electric fields and local polarization in ferroelectric superlattices

Theoretical Understanding of Polar Topological Phase Transitions in Functional Oxide Heterostructures: A Review

The exotic topological phase is attracting considerable attention in condensed matter physics and materials science over the past few decades due to intriguing physical insights. As a combination of "topology" and "ferroelectricity," the ferroelectric (polar) topological structures are a fertile playground for emergent phenomena and functionalities with various potential applications. Herein, the review starts with the universal concept of the polar topological phase and goes on to briefly discuss the important role of computational tools such as phase-field simulations in designing polar topological phases in oxide heterostructures. In particular, the history of the development of phase-field simulations for ferroelectric oxide heterostructures is highlighted. Then, the current research progress of polar topological phases and their emergent phenomena in ferroelectric functional oxide heterostructures is reviewed from a theoretical perspective, including the topological polar structures, the establishment of phase diagrams, their switching kinetics and interconnections, phonon dynamics, and various macroscopic properties. Finally, this review offers a perspective on the future directions for the discovery of novel topological phases in other ferroelectric systems and device design for next-generation electronic device applications.

Lattice Phase Field Model for Nanomaterials

The lattice phase field model is developed to simulate microstructures of nanoscale materials. The grid spacing in simulation is rescaled and restricted to the lattice parameter of real materials. Two possible approaches are used to solve the phase field equations at the length scale of lattice parameter. Examples for lattice phase field modeling of complex nanostructures are presented to demonstrate the potential and capability of this model, including ferroelectric superlattice structure, ferromagnetic composites, and the grain growth process under stress. Advantages, disadvantages, and future directions with this phase field model are discussed briefly.

Topological relations and piezoelectric responses of crystal-axis-oriented BaTiO3/CaTiO3 nanocomposites

A 2D mesocrystalline BaTiO₃/CaTiO₃ nanocomposite can contribute a specific enhancing effect on piezoelectric response by lattice strain at the heteroepitaxial interface.

In situ X-ray diffraction and the evolution of polarization during the growth of ferroelectric superlattices

In epitaxially strained ferroelectric thin films and superlattices, the ferroelectric transition temperature can lie above the growth temperature. Ferroelectric polarization and domains should then evolve during the growth of a sample, and electrostatic boundary conditions may play an important role. In this work, ferroelectric domains, surface termination, average lattice parameter and bilayer thickness are simultaneously monitored using in situ synchrotron X-ray diffraction during the growth of BaTiO3/SrTiO3 superlattices on SrTiO3 substrates by off-axis radio frequency magnetron sputtering. The technique used allows for scan times substantially faster than the growth of a single layer of material. Effects of electric boundary conditions are investigated by growing the same superlattice alternatively on SrTiO3 substrates and 20 nm SrRuO3 thin films on SrTiO3 substrates. These experiments provide important insights into the formation and evolution of ferroelectric domains when the sample is ferroelectric during the growth process.

Periodicity Dependence of the Built-in Electric Field in (Ba0.7Ca0.3)TiO3/Ba(Zr0.2Ti0.8)O3 Ferroelectric Superlattices

Symmetric ferroelectric superlattices consisting of (Ba0.7Ca0.3)TiO3 (BCT) and Ba(Zr0.2Ti0.8)O3 (BZT) layers were successfully grown on La0.7Sr0.3MnO3 electroded (001)-oriented SrTiO3 substrates by laser molecular beam epitaxy. With the monitor of reflective high-energy electron diffraction, the growth mode and rate were precisely controlled to realize the desired superlattice periodicity as confirmed by both X-ray diffraction and transmission electron microscopy results. The microscopic piezoelectric response and macroscopic ferroelectric properties were investigated as a function of periodicity of the BCTm/BZTm (m = 3, 5, 10, and 15 unit cells) superlattices. The existence of a built-in electric field was confirmed in all the superlattices and its strength was highly dependent on the periodicity. The excellent tunability of built-in electric field opens a path for designing microelectronic devices with various functionalities based on BCTm/BZTm superlattices.

Optical Imaging of Nonuniform Ferroelectricity and Strain at the Diffraction Limit

We have imaged optically the spatial distributions of ferroelectricity and piezoelectricity at the diffraction limit. Contributions to the birefringence from electro-optics –linked to ferroelectricity– as well as strain –arising from converse piezoelectric effects– have been recorded simultaneously in a BaTiO₃ thin film. The concurrent recording of electro-optic and piezo-optic mappings revealed that, far from the ideal uniformity, the ferroelectric and piezoelectric responses were strikingly inhomogeneous, exhibiting significant fluctuations over the scale of the micrometer. The optical methods here described are appropriate to study the variations of these properties simultaneously, which are of great relevance when ferroelectrics are downscaled to small sizes for applications in data storage and processing.

Mapping chemical disorder and ferroelectric distortions in the double perovskite compound Sr 2-x Gd x MnTiO6 by atomic resolution electron microscopy and spectroscopy

In this work we report a study of the chemical and structural order of the double perovskite compound Sr 2-x Gd x MnTiO6 for compositions x=0, 0.25, 0.5, 0.75, and 1. A noticeable disorder at the B-site in the Mn and Ti sublattice is detected at the atomic scale by electron energy-loss spectroscopy for all x values, resulting in Mn-rich and Ti-rich regions. For x ≥ 0.75, the cubic unit cell doubles and lowers its symmetry because of structural rearrangements associated with a giant ferroelectric displacement of the perovskite B-site cation. We discuss this finding in the light of the large electroresistance observed in Sr 2-x Gd x MnTiO6, x ≥ 0.75.

Electrostatic coupling and local structural distortions at interfaces in ferroelectric/paraelectric superlattices

The performance of ferroelectric devices is intimately entwined with the structure and dynamics of ferroelectric domains. In ultrathin ferroelectrics, ordered nanodomains arise naturally in response to the presence of a depolarizing field and give rise to highly inhomogeneous polarization and structural profiles. Ferroelectric superlattices offer a unique way of engineering the desired nanodomain structure by modifying the strength of the electrostatic interactions between different ferroelectric layers. Through a combination of X-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy, and first-principles calculations, the electrostatic coupling between ferroelectric layers is studied, revealing the existence of interfacial layers of reduced tetragonality attributed to inhomogeneous strain and polarization profiles associated with the domain structure.

High resolution quantitative piezoresponse force microscopy of BiFeO3 nanofibers with dramatically enhanced sensitivity

Piezoresponse force microscopy (PFM) has emerged as the tool of choice for characterizing piezoelectricity and ferroelectricity of low-dimensional nanostructures, yet quantitative analysis of such low-dimensional ferroelectrics is extremely challenging. In this communication, we report a dual frequency resonance tracking technique to probe nanocrystalline BiFeO(3) nanofibers with substantially enhanced piezoresponse sensitivity, while simultaneously determining its piezoelectric coefficient quantitatively and correlating quality factor mappings with dissipative domain switching processes. This technique can be applied to probe the piezoelectricity and ferroelectricity of a wide range of low-dimensional nanostructures or materials with extremely small piezoelectric effects.