High-frequency electromechanical imaging of ferroelectrics in a liquid environment

Disentangling ferroelectric domain wall geometries and pathways in dynamic piezoresponse force microscopy via unsupervised machine learning

Domain switching pathways in ferroelectric materials visualized by dynamic piezoresponse force microscopy (PFM) are explored via variational autoencoder, which simplifies the elements of the observed domain structure, crucially allowing for rotational invariance, thereby reducing the variability of local polarization distributions to a small number of latent variables. For small sampling window sizes the latent space is degenerate, and variability is observed only in the direction of a single latent variable that can be identified with the presence of domain wall. For larger window sizes, the latent space is 2D, and the disentangled latent variables can be generally interpreted as the degree of switching and complexity of domain structure. Applied to multiple consecutive PFM images acquired while monitoring domain switching, the polarization switching mechanism can thus be visualized in the latent space, providing insight into domain evolution mechanisms and their correlation with the microstructure.

Progress in BiFeO3-based heterostructures: materials, properties and applications

BiFeO3-based heterostructures have attracted much attention for potential applications due to their room-temperature multiferroic properties, proper band gaps and ultrahigh ferroelectric polarization of BiFeO3, such as data storage, optical utilization in visible light regions and synapse-like function. Here, this work aims to offer a systematic review on the progress of BiFeO3-based heterostructures. In the first part, the optical, electric, magnetic, and valley properties and their interactions in BiFeO3-based heterostructures are briefly reviewed. In the second part, the morphologies of BiFeO3 and medium materials in the heterostructures are discussed. Particularly, in the third part, the physical properties and underlying mechanism in BiFeO3-based heterostructures are discussed thoroughly, such as the photovoltaic effect, electric field control of magnetism, resistance switching, and two-dimensional electron gas and valley characteristics. The fourth part illustrates the applications of BiFeO3-based heterostructures based on the materials and physical properties discussed in the second and third parts. This review also includes a future prospect, which can provide guidance for exploring novel physical properties and designing multifunctional devices.

Probing electromechanical behaviors by datacube piezoresponse force microscopy in ambient and aqueous environments

For assisting the in-depth investigations of widespread electromechanical phenomena in functional materials, piezoresponse force microscopy (PFM) has gradually evolved to realize full information-flow acquisition and fit the conductive liquid working environments. Here, we designed data cube (DCUBE) based PFM to collect the electromechanical effect into a high-dimensional array of piezoresponse by adding ac bias with a wide range of frequencies to the probe. The electromechanical and mechanical spectra can be consecutively extracted at each pixel in the intermittent-contact mode. High-resolution ferroelectric domains of the poled LiNbO₃ were mapped, corresponding to the ideal phase contrasts of about 180° in air, decane, and deionized water. Rich information detection and non-contact mode in DCUBE-PFM bring many merits on the electromechanical characterizations, especially for elastic-inhomogeneous surfaces and soft materials. Moreover, we systematically reveal the Debye screening effect and time-resolved field-oriented ion dynamics, which play crucial roles in the reduction of PFM spatial resolution in electrolytes. These physical discussions provide strategies to further realize high-resolution electromechanical imaging in highly conductive liquid environments.

Towards nanoscale electrical measurements in liquid by advanced KPFM techniques: a review

Fundamental mechanisms of energy storage, corrosion, sensing, and multiple biological functionalities are directly coupled to electrical processes and ionic dynamics at solid-liquid interfaces. In many cases, these processes are spatially inhomogeneous taking place at grain boundaries, step edges, point defects, ion channels, etc and possess complex time and voltage dependent dynamics. This necessitates time-resolved and real-space probing of these phenomena. In this review, we discuss the applications of force-sensitive voltage modulated scanning probe microscopy (SPM) for probing electrical phenomena at solid-liquid interfaces. We first describe the working principles behind electrostatic and Kelvin probe force microscopies (EFM & KPFM) at the gas-solid interface, review the state of the art in advanced KPFM methods and developments to (i) overcome limitations of classical KPFM, (ii) expand the information accessible from KPFM, and (iii) extend KPFM operation to liquid environments. We briefly discuss the theoretical framework of electrical double layer (EDL) forces and dynamics, the implications and breakdown of classical EDL models for highly charged interfaces or under high ion concentrations, and describe recent modifications of the classical EDL theory relevant for understanding nanoscale electrical measurements at the solid-liquid interface. We further review the latest achievements in mapping surface charge, dielectric constants, and electrodynamic and electrochemical processes in liquids. Finally, we outline the key challenges and opportunities that exist in the field of nanoscale electrical measurements in liquid as well as providing a roadmap for the future development of liquid KPFM.

Piezoelectric properties of aligned collagen membranes

Electromechanical coupling, a phenomenon present in collagenous materials, may influence cell-extracellular matrix interactions. Here, electromechanical coupling has been investigated via piezoresponse force microscopy in transparent and opaque membranes consisting of helical-like arrays of aligned type I collagen fibrils self-assembled from acidic solution. Using atomic force microscopy, the transparent membrane was determined to contain fibrils having an average diameter of 76 ± 14 nm, whereas the opaque membrane comprised fibrils with an average diameter of 391 ± 99 nm. As the acidity of the membranes must be neutralized before they can serve as cell culture substrates, the structure and piezoelectric properties of the membranes were measured under ambient conditions before and after the neutralization process. A crimp structure (1.59 ± 0.37 µm in width) perpendicular to the fibril alignment became apparent in the transparent membrane when the pH was adjusted from acidic (pH = 2.5) to neutral (pH = 7) conditions. In addition, a 1.35-fold increase was observed in the amplitude of the shear piezoelectricity of the transparent membrane. The structure and piezoelectric properties of the opaque membrane were not significantly affected by the neutralization process. The results highlight the presence of an additional translational order in the transparent membrane in the direction perpendicular to the fibril alignment. The piezoelectric response of both membrane types was found to be an order of magnitude lower than that of collagen fibrils in rat tail tendon. This reduced response is attributed to less-ordered molecular assembly than is present in D-periodic collagen fibrils, as evidenced by the absence of D-periodicity in the membranes.

Probing local electromechanical effects in highly conductive electrolytes

The functionality of a variety of materials and devices is strongly coupled with electromechanical effects which can be used to characterize their functionality. Of high interest is the investigation of these electromechanical effects on the nanoscale which can be achieved by using scanning probe microscopy. Here, an electrical bias is applied locally to the scanning probe tip, and the mechanical sample response is detected. In some applications with electromechanical phenomena, such as energy storage or for biological samples, a liquid environment is required to provide full functionality and sample stability. However, electromechanical sample characterization has mostly been applied in air or under vacuum due to the difficulties of applying local electric fields in a conductive environment. Here, we present a detailed study of piezoresponse force microscopy of ferroelectric samples in liquid environments as a model system for electromechanical effects in general. The ionic strength of the liquid is varied, and possibilities and limitations of the technique are explored. Numerical simulations are used to explain the observed phenomena and used to suggest strategies to work in liquid environments with high ionic strength.