title: Unexpected controllable pair-structure in ferroelectric nanodomains.
abstract: The imminent inability of silicon-based memory devices to satisfy Moore's Law is approaching rapidly. Controllable nanodomains of ferroic systems are anticipated to enable future high-density nonvolatile memory and novel electronic devices. We find via piezoresponse force microscopy (PFM) studies on lead zirconate titanate (PZT) films an unexpected nanostructuring of ferroelectric-ferroelastic domains. These consist of c-nanodomains within a-nanodomains in proximity to a-nanodomains within c-domains. These structures are created and annihilated as pairs, controllably. We treat these as a new kind of vertex-antivertex pair and consider them in terms of the Srolovitz-Scott 4-state Potts model, which results in pairwise domain vertex instabilities that resemble the vortex-antivortex mechanism in ferromagnetism, as well as dislocation pairs (or disclination pairs) that are well-known in nematic liquid crystals. Finally, we show that these nanopairs can be scaled up to form arrays that are engineered at will, paving the way toward facilitating them to real technologies.
authors.affiliation: Nanoscience Centre, University of Cambridge, 11 JJ Thomson Avenue, Cambridge, CB3 0FF, U.K. yachinivry@gmail.com
authors.forename: Yachin
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Ivry
authors.forename: Daping
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Chu
authors.forename: James F
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Scott
authors.forename: Ekhard K H
authors.initials: EK
authors.lastname: Salje
authors.forename: Colm
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Durkan
mesh_terms: D004574:Electromagnetic Fields; D019544:Equipment Failure Analysis; D007854:Lead / Q000737:chemistry*; D008422:Materials Testing; D049329:Nanostructures / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D014025:Titanium / Q000737:chemistry*; D015040:Zirconium / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: C065536:lead titanate zirconate; D007854:Lead; D015040:Zirconium; D014025:Titanium