Atomic-scale mapping of dipole frustration at 90° charged domain walls in ferroelectric PbTiO3 films.

ABSTRACT: The atomic-scale structural and electric parameters of the 90° domain-walls in tetragonal ferroelectrics are of technological importance for exploring the ferroelectric switching behaviors and various domain-wall-related novel functions. We have grown epitaxial PbTiO3/SrTiO3 multilayer films in which the electric dipoles at 90° domain-walls of ferroelectric PbTiO3 are characterized by means of aberration-corrected scanning transmission electron microscopy. Besides the well-accepted head-to-tail 90° uncharged domain-walls, we have identified not only head-to-head positively charged but also tail-to-tail negatively charged domain-walls. The widths, polarization distributions, and strains across these charged domain-walls are mapped quantitatively at atomic scale, where remarkable difference between these domain-walls is presented. This study is expected to provide fundamental information for understanding numerous novel domain-wall phenomena in ferroelectrics.

SUBMITTER: Tang YL 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3927212 | biostudies-other | 2014

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-other