Freestanding ferroelectric bubble domains

ORAL

Abstract

Particle-like bubble domains typically form in ultra-thin ferroelectrics epitaxially clamped on flat substrates. Here, using first-principle-based simulations and local PFM measurements, we inquire if they can be as well sustained in free-standing films, which will be highly promising for some technologies. We demonstrate that these non-trivial dipolar patterns can indeed be retained in a freestanding state in ferroelectric membranes, despite the presence of inhomogeneously distributed structural ripples. We further shed some light on the origin of these latter structural ripples and analyze the stability as well as special features of free-standing polar bubbles. 

*This work is supported by Department of Energy, Office of Science, Basic Energy Sciences, Materials Sciences and Engineering Division, the Center for Nanoscale Materials, Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence in Future Low-Energy Electronics Technologies (project number CE170100039), Australian Government and Women in FLEET Fellowship. The computational work is supported by DARPA (TEE Program, Grant No. HR0011727183-D18AP00010) and the Vannevar Bush Faculty Fellowship (VBFF Program, Grant No. N00014-20-1-2834).

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Publication: Freestanding Ferroelectric Bubble Domains, Saidur R. Bakaul, Sergei Prokhorenko, Qi Zhang, Yousra Nahas, Yushi Hu, Amanda Petford-Long, Laurent Bellaiche, Nagarajan Valanoor, Adv. Mater., 2105432 (2021)

Presenters

  • Sergei Prokhorenko

    • Physics Department and Institute for Nanoscience and Engineering, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, Arkansas 72701, USA
    • University of Arkansas

Authors

  • Sergei Prokhorenko

    • Physics Department and Institute for Nanoscience and Engineering, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, Arkansas 72701, USA
    • University of Arkansas

  • Saidur R Bakaul

    • Argonne National Laboratory

  • Qi Zhang

    • The University of New South Wales

  • Yousra Nahas

    • Physics Department and Institute for Nanoscience and Engineering, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, Arkansas 72701, USA
    • University of Arkansas

  • Yushi Hu

    • University of Chicago

  • Amanda K Petford-Long

    • Argonne National Laboratory

  • Laurent Bellaiche

    • University of Arkansas

  • Nagarajan Valanoor

    • University of New South Wales