Spontaneous vortex nanodomain arrays at ferroelectric heterointerfaces.
The polarization of the ferroelectric BiFeO(3) sub-jected to different electrical boundary conditions by heterointerfaces is imaged with atomic resolution using a spherical aberration-corrected transmission electron microscope. Unusual triangular-shaped nanodomains are seen, and their role in providing polarization closure is understood through phase-field simulations. Heterointerfaces are key to the performance of ferroelectric devices, and this first observation of spontaneous vortex nanodomain arrays at ferroelectric heterointerfaces reveals properties unlike the surrounding film including mixed Ising-Néel domain walls, which will affect switching behavior, and a drastic increase of in-plane polarization. The importance of magnetization closure has long been appreciated in multidomain ferromagnetic systems; imaging this analogous effect with atomic resolution at ferroelectric heterointerfaces provides the ability to see device-relevant interface issues. Extension of this technique to visualize domain dynamics is envisioned.
Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109, USA.
Christopher T
CT
Nelson
Benjamin
B
Winchester
Yi
Y
Zhang
Sung-Joo
SJ
Kim
Alexander
A
Melville
Carolina
C
Adamo
Chad M
CM
Folkman
Seung-Hyub
SH
Baek
Chang-Beom
CB
Eom
Darrell G
DG
Schlom
Long-Qing
LQ
Chen
Xiaoqing
X
Pan
D005290:Ferric Compounds / Q000737:chemistry*; D046911:Macromolecular Substances / Q000737:chemistry; D008280:Magnetics; D008422:Materials Testing; D008968:Molecular Conformation; D049329:Nanostructures / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D010316:Particle Size; D013499:Surface Properties
D005290:Ferric Compounds; D046911:Macromolecular Substances; C000499:ferric oxide