Probing the role of single defects on the thermodynamics of electric-field induced phase transitions.
The kinetics and thermodynamics of first order transitions are universally controlled by defects that act as nucleation sites and pinning centers. Here we demonstrate that defect-domain interactions during polarization reversal processes in ferroelectric materials result in a pronounced fine structure in electromechanical hysteresis loops. Spatially resolved imaging of a single defect center in multiferroic BiFeO3 thin film is achieved, and the defect size and built-in field are determined self-consistently from the single-point spectroscopic measurements and spatially resolved images. This methodology is universal and can be applied to other reversible bias-induced transitions including electrochemical reactions.
Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, TN 37831, USA.
S V
SV
Kalinin
S
S
Jesse
B J
BJ
Rodriguez
Y H
YH
Chu
R
R
Ramesh
E A
EA
Eliseev
A N
AN
Morozovska