Two dimensional ferroelectrics: Candidate for controllable physical and chemical applications

Abstract

The recent emerged two‐dimensional (2D) ferroelectrics have attracted tremendous research interests due to their promising application in nonvolatile electronics devices. The reversible electric polarization of ferroelectrics from the off‐centered positive and negative surfaces can effectively lift the band states near Fermi level and modulate the charge distribution, which therefore play important roles for the controllable electronic/magnetic properties and chemical reactions. Here, based on the latest revealed 2D ferroelectrics, we reviewed the research progress of ferroelectric controlled physical properties and chemical reactions, including the effects of reversible polarization on magnetic and electronic behaviors, polarization dependent photocatalytic water splitting and gas adsorptions. The associated applications in electronics, sensors and energy conversion are also discussed. At last, the possible research directions of 2D ferroelectrics have also been proposed. The review is expected to inspire the research interests of 2D ferroelectrics in the practical applications. This article is categorized under: Structure and Mechanism > Computational Materials Science Electronic Structure Theory > Density Functional Theory

Tunable Band Alignments in 2D Ferroelectric α-In2Se3 Based Van der Waals Heterostructures

“…The emergence of 2D ferroelectric materials, − in particular, the ones with out-of-plane electric polarization, provides an effective approach to tune the electronic and related properties of vdW heterostructures. A number of theoretical designs have been proposed recently to use 2D ferroelectric materials as a functional substrate to tune the electronic, − optical, , and magnetic − properties of adlayers or the whole heterostructures.…”

Nonvolatile Controlling Valleytronics by Ferroelectricity in 2H-VSe2/Sc2CO2 van der Waals Heterostructure

“…In addition, the stable states should be reversible and nonvolatile to make the control rational. − Among various 2D layered materials, 2D ferroelectric (FE) crystals present an intriguing case. That is because 2D FE crystals harbor two stable polarized states (P↑ and P↓) with completely opposite polarized directions, − and the polarization that could couple with valleytronics as the effect of FE polarization is equivalent to that of an external electrical field. Moreover, the electrical switching between these two FE states is nonvolatile since the reversed state will be preserved even after removing the external electrical field.…”

Emerging van der Waals ferroelectrics: Unique properties and novel devices

“…The task of examining a large number of predicted vdW ferroelectrics 63,64,110 to find large polarization material also seems urgent because their experimental confirmed counterparts are not only scarce but also feature small polarization. Exploring vdW multiferroics is equally promising.…”

“…We note that thorough reviews of predicted vdW ferroelectrics can be found in other literatures. [61][62][63][64]…”