Fluctuations and Symmetry

Centrosymmetry-Breaking Morphotropic Phase Boundary: A Pathway to Highly Sensitive and Strong Pressure-Responsive Nonlinear Optical Switches

“…Phase transition, as a critical phenomenon, has profound implications for both fundamental science and technological applications . At the boundary of a phase transition, the free energy of distinct phases converges, where even minor changes in external conditions can trigger significant and abrupt alterations in the physical properties, providing a viable platform for materials engineering . Depending on the driving forces, phase transitions can manifest as either morphotropic (composition-driven) or polymorphic (temperature-driven), leading to the formation of morphotropic phase boundaries (MPBs) − or polymorphic phase boundaries (PPBs). − While extensive research has mainly focused on the more easily achievable polymorphic transitions that involve diverse physical properties, − their limitations, such as responsiveness at specific temperatures range and susceptibility to thermal hysteresis effects, have constrained their practical utility.…”