Fluctuation Dynamics of Ferroelectric Nano-domains in BaTiO<sub>3</sub> Thin Films

POSTER

Abstract

Ferroelectric materials possess a thermodynamically stable polarization which can be controlled using temperature, voltage, and recently with optical pulses, enabling numerous device applications including non-volatile memories, actuators, and sensors. Ferroelectric domain structure plays an important role in manipulating polarization switching behavior and depends upon factors including strain, temperature and interfacial properties. In this study, we focused on understanding domain dynamics and fluctuations in BaTiO3 (BTO) thin films, which show ordered 90° alternating in-plane and out-of-plane domain from 50 °C to130 °C (Curie Temperature). We utilized X-ray photon correlation spectroscopy (XPCS) to probe domain fluctuations by accessing satellite peaks formed by ordered stripe domain in Bragg geometry. Our measurements show a two-step behavior, where from 50 °C to 90 °C, a slowing down of fluctuation timescales was observed due to stabilization of a/c domains. Above 90 °C, an increase in fluctuation timescales was observed as the material undergoes ferroelectric to paraelectric transition. This research demonstrates the characteristic behavior and timescales of nano-domain fluctuations in BTO thin films which have not been previously studied.

Presenters

  • Jianheng Li

    • Materials Science and Engineering, Uinversity of California, Davis

Authors

  • Jianheng Li

    • Materials Science and Engineering, Uinversity of California, Davis

  • Rahul Jangid

    • Materials Science and Engineering, Uinversity of California, Davis

  • Geoffery Ian Rippy

    • Materials Science and Engineering, Uinversity of California, Davis
    • University of California, Davis
    • Materials Science and Engineering, University of California Davis

  • Christopher Kohne

    • Materials Science and Engineering, Uinversity of California, Davis

  • Arnoud Everhardt

    • Materials Science and Engineering, University of California, Berkeley
    • Materials Sciences Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory
    • Materials Science Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory
    • Zernike Institute for Advanced Materials, University of Groningen, Nijenborgh 4, 9747 AG Groningen, The Netherlands

  • Beatriz Noheda

    • Zernike Institute for Advanced Materials, University of Groningen
    • Zernike Institute for Advanced Materials, University of Groningen, Nijenborgh 4, 9747 AG Groningen, The Netherlands
    • University of Groningen

  • Andrei Fleurasu

    • National Synchrotron Light Source II, Brookhaven National Laboratory
    • National Synchrotron Light Source II
    • Photon Sciences, Brookhaven National Laboratory

  • Sylvia Matzen

    • CNRS, University of Paris - Sud 11
    • University of Paris-Sud

  • Roopali Kukreja

    • Materials Science and Engineering, Uinversity of California, Davis
    • University of California, Davis
    • Materials Science and Engineering, University of California Davis