Tuning of Polar Domain Boundaries in Nonpolar Perovskite

Abstract

Domain boundaries in ferroic materials are found to have various physical properties not observed in the surrounding domains. Such differences can be enhanced and bring promising functionalities when centrosymmetric nonpolar materials encounter polar domain boundaries. In this work, a tunable polar domain boundary is discovered in an antiferroelectric single crystal. Under a small stress or electric field, the density, volume, and polarity of the boundaries are successfully controlled.

Room-temperature stabilizing strongly competing ferrielectric and antiferroelectric phases in PbZrO3 by strain-mediated phase separation

“…APBs will spontaneously occur. The APBs have been found to expand on the (110) plane 25 , while the lamellar crystallites of the threefold phases lay on the same crystallographic plane. These APBs can exhibit the “↑↑↓”-like ferrielectric configuration 25 , 27 .…”

“…The APBs have been found to expand on the (110) plane 25 , while the lamellar crystallites of the threefold phases lay on the same crystallographic plane. These APBs can exhibit the "↑↑↓"-like ferrielectric configuration 25,27 . Meanwhile, according to the observed interfacial defect driven phase transition in PbZrO 3 single crystal materials 22 , it is reasonable to speculate that these APBs could be the possible nucleation sites for the FiE phase.…”

“…3e , the GPA images demonstrate that both of FiE phase and AFE regions cover the misfit dislocations, implying that there is no direct correspondence between the nucleation sites of FiE (or AFE) phase and the cores of misfit dislocations. However, the local strain induced by these dislocations would influence the type and formation of APBs 25 , which indirectly intervene the stabilization and coexistence of FiE-like and AFE-like phases as will be discussed later.

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