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Deterministic Switching of Ferroelectric Bubble Nanodomains
Author(s) -
Zhang Qi,
Prokhorenko Sergei,
Nahas Yousra,
Xie Lin,
Bellaiche Laurent,
Gruverman Alexei,
Valanoor Nagarajan
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
advanced functional materials
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 6.069
H-Index - 322
eISSN - 1616-3028
pISSN - 1616-301X
DOI - 10.1002/adfm.201808573
Subject(s) - ferroelectricity , materials science , bubble , polarization (electrochemistry) , realization (probability) , phase transition , amplitude , nanoscopic scale , piezoresponse force microscopy , topology (electrical circuits) , condensed matter physics , nanotechnology , optoelectronics , optics , physics , mechanics , dielectric , mathematics , chemistry , combinatorics , statistics
Here, the deterministic and reversible transformation of nanoscale ferroelectric bubbles into cylindrical domains using a scanning probe microscopy (SPM) approach is demonstrated. The bubble domains—sub‐10 nm spheroid topological structures with rotational polarization—can be erased by applying a mechanical force via the SPM tip. Application of an electrical pulse with a specific combination of amplitude and duration can recreate the bubble domain state. This combination of mechanical and electrical passes is essential for realization of reversible transformation as application of only electrical pulses results in complete erasure of the bubble domain state. Effective Hamiltonian‐based simulations reproduce phase sequences for both the mechanical and electric passes and confirm the intrinsic nature of these transitions. This simple and effective pathway for switching between various topological defect states may be exploited for emergent devices.