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Domain topology and domain switching kinetics in a hybrid improper ferroelectric

Author

Listed:
  • F. -T. Huang

    (Rutgers Center for Emergent Materials, Rutgers University)

  • F. Xue

    (Pennsylvania State University, University Park)

  • B. Gao

    (Rutgers Center for Emergent Materials, Rutgers University)

  • L. H. Wang

    (Laboratory for Pohang Emergent Materials, Max Plank POSTECH Center for Complex Phase Materials, Pohang University of Science and Technology)

  • X. Luo

    (Laboratory for Pohang Emergent Materials, Max Plank POSTECH Center for Complex Phase Materials, Pohang University of Science and Technology)

  • W. Cai

    (Rutgers Center for Emergent Materials, Rutgers University
    Present address: Chongqing University of Science and Technology, Chongqing 401331, China)

  • X. -Z. Lu

    (Northwestern University)

  • J. M. Rondinelli

    (Northwestern University)

  • L. Q. Chen

    (Pennsylvania State University, University Park)

  • S. -W. Cheong

    (Rutgers Center for Emergent Materials, Rutgers University
    Laboratory for Pohang Emergent Materials, Max Plank POSTECH Center for Complex Phase Materials, Pohang University of Science and Technology)

Abstract

Charged polar interfaces such as charged ferroelectric walls or heterostructured interfaces of ZnO/(Zn,Mg)O and LaAlO3/SrTiO3, across which the normal component of electric polarization changes suddenly, can host large two-dimensional conduction. Charged ferroelectric walls, which are energetically unfavourable in general, were found to be mysteriously abundant in hybrid improper ferroelectric (Ca,Sr)3Ti2O7 crystals. From the exploration of antiphase boundaries in bilayer-perovskites, here we discover that each of four polarization-direction states is degenerate with two antiphase domains, and these eight structural variants form a Z4 × Z2 domain structure with Z3 vortices and five distinct types of domain walls, whose topology is directly relevant to the presence of abundant charged walls. We also discover a zipper-like nature of antiphase boundaries, which are the reversible creation/annihilation centres of pairs of two types of ferroelectric walls (and also Z3-vortex pairs) in 90° and 180° polarization switching. Our results demonstrate the unexpectedly rich nature of hybrid improper ferroelectricity.

Suggested Citation

  • F. -T. Huang & F. Xue & B. Gao & L. H. Wang & X. Luo & W. Cai & X. -Z. Lu & J. M. Rondinelli & L. Q. Chen & S. -W. Cheong, 2016. "Domain topology and domain switching kinetics in a hybrid improper ferroelectric," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 7(1), pages 1-9, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:7:y:2016:i:1:d:10.1038_ncomms11602
    DOI: 10.1038/ncomms11602
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