Premium
Epitaxial TiO x Surface in Ferroelectric BaTiO 3 : Native Structure and Dynamic Patterning at the Atomic Scale
Author(s) -
Barzilay Maya,
Qiu Tian,
Rappe Andrew M.,
Ivry Yachin
Publication year - 2020
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.201902549
Subject(s) - materials science , ferroelectricity , nanotechnology , epitaxy , atomic units , oxide , nanolithography , electron beam lithography , lithography , phase (matter) , optoelectronics , layer (electronics) , resist , fabrication , chemistry , physics , organic chemistry , quantum mechanics , dielectric , metallurgy , medicine , alternative medicine , pathology
Abstract Surfaces and interfaces of ferroelectric oxides exhibit enhanced functionality, and therefore serve as a platform for novel nano and quantum technologies. Experimental and theoretical challenges associated with examining the subtle electro‐chemo‐mechanical balance at metal‐oxide surfaces have hindered the understanding and control of their structure and behavior. Here, combined are advanced electron‐microscopy and first‐principles thermodynamics methods to reveal the atomic‐scale chemical and crystallographic structure of the surface of the seminal ferroelectric BaTiO 3 . It is shown that the surface is composed of a native <2 nm thick TiO x rock‐salt layer in epitaxial registry with the BaTiO 3 . Using electron‐beam irradiation, artificial TiO x sites with sub‐nanometer resolution are successfully patterned, by inducing Ba escape. Therefore, this work offers electro‐chemo‐mechanical insights into ferroelectric surface behavior in addition to a method for scalable high‐resolution beam‐induced chemical lithography for selectively driving surface phase transitions, and thereby functionalizing metal‐oxide surfaces.