Center‐Type Topological Domain States in Ferroelectric Nanodots Tailored from Thin Films. Issue 4 (12th January 2023)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Li, Zhongwen; Zhang, Siyi; Li, Xiaofen; Wu, Yangjiang; Wang, Haiou; Liu, Hao
• Is Part Of: Physica status solidi. Volume 17:Issue 4(2023)
• Page Start: n/a
• Page End: n/a
• Publication Date: 2023-01-12
• Subjects: ferroelectric nanodots -- piezoresponse force microscopy -- topological domain structures; Solid state physics -- Periodicals; 530.4105
• DOI: 10.1002/pssr.202200424
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1862-6254

Abstract

Abstract : This article reports on using atomic force microscopy to investigate the structure and switching of ferroelectric domains on nanodot arrays. High‐density arrays of epitaxial discrete nanodots are fabricated by the template‐assisted tailoring of thin films. Furthermore, the measurement of the vectorial polarization distribution and switching of domains is conducted, which helps identify four topological domain states. In addition to convergent and divergent domain states with upward and downward polarization, double‐center and triple‐center domains are identified. Thus, the study shows the formation mechanisms for these topological domain states using the accumulation of mobile charges on the interface and the strain gradient arising from the tailoring of thin films into nanodots. The properties of these exotic multicenter topological domain states provide the opportunity to further study their potential application in high‐density storage devices. Abstract : Exotic multicenter topological domains in multiferroic BiFeO3 high‐density nanodot arrays tailored from films are identified by vector piezoresponse force microscopy (PFM). By tailoring the film into smaller discrete nanocapacitors, the charges accumulate and stabilize the center domains. Smaller topological domains form due to the appearance of the vertices of nanodots, thus rendering a higher storage density.