Tracking ferroelectric domain formation during epitaxial growth of PbTiO3 films
Open access
Date
2020-09-28Type
- Journal Article
Abstract
The arrangement of domains and domain walls is a crucial factor in determining the functional properties of ferroelectric materials. Here, we track the ferroelectric domain formation mechanism in ultrathin PbTiO3 films in real time during epitaxial growth using in-situ optical second harmonic generation (ISHG). In combination with complementary exsitu piezoresponse force microscopy and SHG imaging, we unambiguously identify the tensile-epitaxial-strain-induced partial conversion of out-of-plane-polarized c-domains into in-plane-polarized a-domains. We further show that in the strongly compressive epitaxial regime the c-to-a conversion can be shifted to the early stage of the growth to favor a remarkable randomization in the distribution of a- and c-domains. This unprecedented access to the domain-formation dynamics constitutes an important step towards deterministic domain architectures in technologically relevant ultrathin ferroelectrics which, in turn, is valuable for the development of functional ferroelectric and piezoelectric structures. Show more
Permanent link
https://doi.org/10.3929/ethz-b-000443599Publication status
publishedExternal links
Journal / series
Applied Physics LettersVolume
Pages / Article No.
Publisher
American Institute of PhysicsSubject
ferroelectric materialsOrganisational unit
03918 - Fiebig, Manfred / Fiebig, Manfred
Funding
188414 - Multifunctional oxide electronics using natural ferroelectric superlattices (SNF)
694955 - In-situ second harmonic generation for emergent electronics in transition-metal oxides (EC)
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