Strain Engineering of Domain Coexistence in Epitaxial Lead-Titanite Thin Films

Abstract

Phase and domain structures in ferroelectric materials play a vital role in determining their dielectric and piezoelectric properties. Ferroelectric thin films with coexisting multiple domains or phases often have fascinating high sensitivity and ultrahigh physical properties. However, the control of the coexisting multiple domains is still challenging, thus necessitating the theoretical prediction. Here, we studied the phase coexistence and the domain morphology of PbTiO3 epitaxial films by using a Landau–Devonshire phenomenological model and canonic statistical method. Results show that PbTiO3 films can exist in multiple domain structures that can be diversified by the substrates with different misfit strains. Experimental results for PbTiO3 epitaxial films on different substrates are in good accordance with the theoretical prediction, which shows an alternative way for further manipulation of the ferroelectric domain structures.

Enhanced thermal stability by short-range ordered ferroelectricity in K0.5Na0.5NbO3-based piezoelectric oxides

“…27,31 This short range ordering is closely related to the lattice vibration; and thus the inhomogeneous structure and/or composition can exhibit a higher temperature stability with strong phonon This journal is © The Royal Society of Chemistry 2023 scattering and phonon broadening. [32][33][34] Therefore, the short range ordering by a residual strain in fine grains can lead to higher thermal stability.…”