Journal Article

FZJ-2020-01203

http://join2-wiki.gsi.de/foswiki/pub/Main/Artwork/join2_logo100x88.png Unconventional Ferroelectric Switching via Local Domain Wall Motion in Multiferroic ε‐Fe2O3 Films

Guan, X. ; Yao, L. (Corresponding author) ; Rushchanskii, K. (Corresponding author)FZJ* ; Inkinen, S. ; Yu, R. (Corresponding author) ; Lezaic, M.FZJ* ; Sánchez, F. ; Gich, M. (Corresponding author) ; Dijken, S. (Corresponding author)

2020
Wiley Chichester

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Please use a persistent id in citations: http://hdl.handle.net/2128/24698  doi:10.1002/aelm.201901134

Abstract: Deterministic polarization reversal in ferroelectric and multiferroic films is critical for their exploitation in nanoelectronic devices. While ferroelectricity has been studied for nearly a century, major discrepancies in the reported values of coercive fields and saturation polarization persist in literature for many materials. This raises questions about the atomic‐scale mechanisms behind polarization reversal. Unconventional ferroelectric switching in ε‐Fe2O3 films, a material that combines ferrimagnetism and ferroelectricity at room temperature, is reported. High‐resolution in situ scanning transmission electron microscopy experiments and first‐principles calculations demonstrate that polarization reversal in ε‐Fe2O3 occurs around pre‐existing domain walls only, triggering local domain wall motion in moderate electric fields of 250–500 kV cm−1. Calculations indicate that the activation barrier for switching at domain walls is nearly a quarter of that corresponding to the most likely transition paths inside ε‐Fe2O3 domains. Moreover, domain walls provide symmetry lowering of the polar structure near the domain boundary, which is shown to be necessary for ferroelectric switching in ε‐Fe2O3. Local polarization reversal in ε‐Fe2O3 limits the macroscopic ferroelectric response and offers important hints on how to tailor ferroelectric properties by domain structure design in other relevant ferroelectric materials.

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Contributing Institute(s):

1. Quanten-Theorie der Materialien (IAS-1)
2. Quanten-Theorie der Materialien (PGI-1)
3. JARA-FIT (JARA-FIT)
4. JARA - HPC (JARA-HPC)

Research Program(s):

1. 142 - Controlling Spin-Based Phenomena (POF3-142) (POF3-142)
2. 143 - Controlling Configuration-Based Phenomena (POF3-143) (POF3-143)
3. Ab initio study of novel multiferroic materials (jiff38_20190501) (jiff38_20190501)

Appears in the scientific report 2020

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Database coverage:
; ; ; Clarivate Analytics Master Journal List ; Current Contents - Physical, Chemical and Earth Sciences ; IF >= 5 ; JCR ; SCOPUS ; Science Citation Index Expanded ; Web of Science Core Collection

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