title: Electrostatic coupling and local structural distortions at interfaces in ferroelectric/paraelectric superlattices.
abstract: The performance of ferroelectric devices is intimately entwined with the structure and dynamics of ferroelectric domains. In ultrathin ferroelectrics, ordered nanodomains arise naturally in response to the presence of a depolarizing field and give rise to highly inhomogeneous polarization and structural profiles. Ferroelectric superlattices offer a unique way of engineering the desired nanodomain structure by modifying the strength of the electrostatic interactions between different ferroelectric layers. Through a combination of X-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy, and first-principles calculations, the electrostatic coupling between ferroelectric layers is studied, revealing the existence of interfacial layers of reduced tetragonality attributed to inhomogeneous strain and polarization profiles associated with the domain structure.
authors.affiliation: DPMC, University of Geneva, 24 quai Ernest-Ansermet, 1211 Geneva-4, Switzerland. pavlo.zubko@unige.ch
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Zubko
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Jecklin
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Torres-Pardo
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Aguado-Puente
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gloter
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Lichtensteiger
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Junquera
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Stéphan
authors.forename: J-M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Triscone
mesh_terms: D003198:Computer Simulation; D004553:Electric Conductivity; D060526:Magnetic Fields; D008956:Models, Chemical; D049329:Nanostructures / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D010316:Particle Size; D055672:Static Electricity; D013499:Surface Properties