Manipulating Ferroelectric Domains in Nanostructures Under Electron Beams

R. Ahluwalia; N. Ng; A. Schilling; R. G. P. McQuaid; D. M. Evans; J. M. Gregg; D. J. Srolovitz; J. F. Scott

doi:10.1103/PhysRevLett.111.165702

Manipulating Ferroelectric Domains in Nanostructures Under Electron Beams

R. Ahluwalia^*, N. Ng, A. Schilling, R. G. P. McQuaid, D. M. Evans, J. M. Gregg, D. J. Srolovitz, J. F. Scott

^*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

Abstract

Freestanding BaTiO3 nanodots exhibit domain structures characterized by distinct quadrants of ferroelastic 90 degrees domains in transmission electron microscopy (TEM) observations. These differ significantly from flux-closure domain patterns in the same systems imaged by piezoresponse force microscopy. Based upon a series of phase field simulations of BaTiO3 nanodots, we suggest that the TEM patterns result from a radial electric field arising from electron beam charging of the nanodot. For sufficiently large charging, this converts flux-closure domain patterns to quadrant patterns with radial net polarizations. Not only does this explain the puzzling patterns that have been observed in TEM studies of ferroelectric nanodots, but also suggests how to manipulate ferroelectric domain patterns via electron beams.

Original language	English
Article number	165702
Number of pages	5
Journal	Physical Review Letters
Volume	111
Issue number	16
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.111.165702
Publication status	Published - 16 Oct 2013

Keywords

THIN-FILMS
CLOSURE
NANOFERROELECTRICS
GRAPHENE
NANODOTS

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10.1103/PhysRevLett.111.165702

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title = "Manipulating Ferroelectric Domains in Nanostructures Under Electron Beams",

abstract = "Freestanding BaTiO3 nanodots exhibit domain structures characterized by distinct quadrants of ferroelastic 90 degrees domains in transmission electron microscopy (TEM) observations. These differ significantly from flux-closure domain patterns in the same systems imaged by piezoresponse force microscopy. Based upon a series of phase field simulations of BaTiO3 nanodots, we suggest that the TEM patterns result from a radial electric field arising from electron beam charging of the nanodot. For sufficiently large charging, this converts flux-closure domain patterns to quadrant patterns with radial net polarizations. Not only does this explain the puzzling patterns that have been observed in TEM studies of ferroelectric nanodots, but also suggests how to manipulate ferroelectric domain patterns via electron beams.",

keywords = "THIN-FILMS, CLOSURE, NANOFERROELECTRICS, GRAPHENE, NANODOTS",

author = "R. Ahluwalia and N. Ng and A. Schilling and McQuaid, {R. G. P.} and Evans, {D. M.} and Gregg, {J. M.} and Srolovitz, {D. J.} and Scott, {J. F.}",

year = "2013",

month = oct,

day = "16",

doi = "10.1103/PhysRevLett.111.165702",

language = "English",

volume = "111",

journal = "Physical Review Letters",

issn = "0031-9007",

publisher = "American Physical Society",

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T1 - Manipulating Ferroelectric Domains in Nanostructures Under Electron Beams

AU - Ahluwalia, R.

AU - Ng, N.

AU - Schilling, A.

AU - McQuaid, R. G. P.

AU - Evans, D. M.

AU - Gregg, J. M.

AU - Srolovitz, D. J.

AU - Scott, J. F.

PY - 2013/10/16

Y1 - 2013/10/16

N2 - Freestanding BaTiO3 nanodots exhibit domain structures characterized by distinct quadrants of ferroelastic 90 degrees domains in transmission electron microscopy (TEM) observations. These differ significantly from flux-closure domain patterns in the same systems imaged by piezoresponse force microscopy. Based upon a series of phase field simulations of BaTiO3 nanodots, we suggest that the TEM patterns result from a radial electric field arising from electron beam charging of the nanodot. For sufficiently large charging, this converts flux-closure domain patterns to quadrant patterns with radial net polarizations. Not only does this explain the puzzling patterns that have been observed in TEM studies of ferroelectric nanodots, but also suggests how to manipulate ferroelectric domain patterns via electron beams.

AB - Freestanding BaTiO3 nanodots exhibit domain structures characterized by distinct quadrants of ferroelastic 90 degrees domains in transmission electron microscopy (TEM) observations. These differ significantly from flux-closure domain patterns in the same systems imaged by piezoresponse force microscopy. Based upon a series of phase field simulations of BaTiO3 nanodots, we suggest that the TEM patterns result from a radial electric field arising from electron beam charging of the nanodot. For sufficiently large charging, this converts flux-closure domain patterns to quadrant patterns with radial net polarizations. Not only does this explain the puzzling patterns that have been observed in TEM studies of ferroelectric nanodots, but also suggests how to manipulate ferroelectric domain patterns via electron beams.

KW - THIN-FILMS

KW - CLOSURE

KW - NANOFERROELECTRICS

KW - GRAPHENE

KW - NANODOTS

U2 - 10.1103/PhysRevLett.111.165702

DO - 10.1103/PhysRevLett.111.165702

M3 - Article

SN - 0031-9007

VL - 111

JO - Physical Review Letters

JF - Physical Review Letters

IS - 16

M1 - 165702

ER -

Manipulating Ferroelectric Domains in Nanostructures Under Electron Beams

Abstract

Keywords

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