Role of ferroelectric polarization during growth of highly strained ferroelectric materials

Abstract

In ferroelectric thin films and superlattices, the polarization is intricately linked to crystal structure. Here we show that it can also play an important role in the growth process, influencing growth rates, relaxation mechanisms, electrical properties and domain structures. This is studied by focusing on the properties of BaTiO 3 thin films grown on very thin layers of PbTiO 3 using x-ray diffraction, piezoforce microscopy, electrical characterization and rapid insitu x-ray diffraction reciprocal space maps during the growth using synchrotron radiation. Using a simple model we show that the changes in growth are driven by the energy cost for the top material to sustain the polarization imposed upon it by the underlying layer, and these effects may be expected to occur in other multilayer systems where polarization is present during growth. This motivates the concept of polarization engineering as a complementary approach to strain engineering.

Ferroelectric Polymer Drives Performance Enhancement of Non‐fullerene Organic Solar Cells

“…In addition, an interesting phenomenon is observed in AFM images, that is, a “lattice”‐like morphology emerged and became more pronounced when the amount of PVDF reaches 10 % and 20 % (Figure S14). Such morphology may be the dominant characteristics of the highly orientated magnetic domains of PVDF upon the electric field from AFM measurement [40] …”

“…Such morphology may be the dominant characteristics of the highly orientated magnetic domains of PVDF upon the electric field from AFM measurement. [40] Figures 5b and c show the two-dimensional GIWAXS images and one-dimensional scattering contour of the blended films, respectively. The specific parameters are shown in Table S8.…”

Controlling ferroelectric hysteresis offsets in PbTiO$_{3}$ based superlattices

“…Bulk PTO has a larger lattice constant than bulk STO. Hence the in-plane strain in PTO on STO is compressive at standard deposition temperatures where PTO is cubic [29,30]. The compressive strain on PTO can favor vacancy formation to enable release of the lattice mismatch-induced stress.…”

In Situ Methods for Metal-Flux Synthesis in Inert Environments

“…Rather, each phase can be targeted by adjusting the reaction cooling rate: Ba 5 Yb 2 Mg 17 Si 12 forms when slowly cooled to 800 °C and Ba 20 Yb 5 Mg 61 Si 43 forms when fast cooled to 640 °C. 15 In addition to phase formation, other factors can be monitored via in situ studies to further understand physical phenomena, including phase stability, 16,17 structural integrity, 18,19 and property evolution including in situ transport 20 and electrochemical 21 and thermoelectric properties. 22 For example, quantitative studies regarding the impact of annealing temperatures and cooling conditions provided insight into the dynamics of order/disorder phase transitions in the Pt 3 Co nanoparticle catalysts.…”