Domain fluctuations in a ferroelectric low-strain BaTiO<sub>3 </sub>thin film

ORAL

Abstract

The intriguing prospect of ferroelectric materials is that they possess spontaneous electric polarization that can be altered with applied electric fields, enabling numerous device applications including non-volatile memories, actuators, and sensors. Ferroelectric domain reconfiguration plays an important role in manipulating polarization switching behavior and the dynamical properties of the ferroelectric thin films. In this study, we utilized X-ray photon correlation spectroscopy to probe ordered a/c domain dynamics and fluctuations across a/b to a/c domain transformation and Curie temperature. Our studies show that the a/b to a/c domain transformation is accompanied by a decrease in fluctuation timescales, and an increase in intensity and correlation length. Surprisingly, domain fluctuations are observed up to 25 °C above the transformation, concomitant with the growth of a/c domains and coexistence of both domain types. A further increase in temperature brings the system closer to the Curie temperature resulting in the observance of a/c domain fluctuations. The observed time evolution and reconfiguration of domain patterns highlight the role played by phase coexistence and elastic boundary conditions in altering fluctuations timescales in ferroelectric thin films.

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Presenters

  • Jianheng Li

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

Authors

  • Jianheng Li

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

  • Louie Zhong

    • Materials Science and Engineering, University of California, Davis

  • Rahul Jangid

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

  • FNU Meera

    • Materials Science and Engineering, University of California, Davis

  • Geoffery I Rippy

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

  • Kenneth Ainslie

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

  • Chris Kohne

    • Materials Science and Engineering, University of California, Davis

  • Arnoud Everhardt

    • Zernike Institute for Advanced Materials, University of Groningen

  • Beatriz Noheda

    • Zernike Institute for Advanced Materials, University of Groningen

  • Yugang Zhang

    • National Synchrotron Light Source II, Brookhaven National Laboratory

  • Andrei Fluerasu

    • National Synchrotron Light Source II, Brookhaven National Laboratory

  • Sylvia Matzen

    • Centre de Nanosciences et de Nanotechnologies, Université Paris-Saclay

  • Roopali Kukreja

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