Ferroelectric Domain Structures in Low-Strain BaTiO3

Epitaxial strain in ferroelectric films offers the possibility to enhance the piezoelectric performance utilizing low crystal symmetries and high density of domain walls. Ferroelectric BaTiO3 has been predicted to order in a variety of phases and domain configurations when grown under low strain on...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Advanced electronic materials 2016-01, Vol.2 (1), p.n/a
Main Authors: Everhardt, Arnoud S., Matzen, Sylvia, Domingo, Neus, Catalan, Gustau, Noheda, Beatriz
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
BaTiO3 thin films
ferroelastic domains
ferroelectric materials
piezoelectric materials
pulsed laser deposition
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Summary:Epitaxial strain in ferroelectric films offers the possibility to enhance the piezoelectric performance utilizing low crystal symmetries and high density of domain walls. Ferroelectric BaTiO3 has been predicted to order in a variety of phases and domain configurations when grown under low strain on low mismatched substrates, but little experimental evidence of that region of the phase diagram exist. Here, epitaxial BaTiO3 thin films are grown on NdScO3 substrates under ≈0.1% strain. A monoclinic ca1/ca2 phase, with 90° periodic in‐plane domain configuration and small additional out‐of‐plane component of polarization, is stabilized at room temperature and investigated using piezoelectric force microscopy and X‐ray diffraction. Above 50 °C, this phase is transformed into an a/c phase with alternating in‐plane and out‐of‐plane polarizations and forming zigzag domain walls between up‐polarized and down‐polarized superdomains. Both types of domain patterns are highly anisotropic, giving rise to very long domain walls. Above 130 °C, the paraelectric phase is observed. The occurrence of a phase transition close to room temperature, a low symmetry ca1/ca2 phase, and the formation of periodic domains make of this material a promising candidate for high piezoelectric response. BaTiO3 thin films are grown using pulsed laser deposition on low‐strain NdScO3 substrates. A room‐temperature monoclinic ca1/ca2 periodic domain configuration with in‐plane and additional symmetry‐lowering out‐of‐plane polarization is stabilized; at above 50 °C, an a/c domain configuration with very long domain walls is observed. This rich phase diagram with domains and lowered symmetry is promising for high piezoelectric response.
ISSN:2199-160X
2199-160X
DOI:10.1002/aelm.201500214