Depolarizing-field-mediated 180° switching in ferroelectric thin films with 90° domains

Publication Type:

Journal Article

Authors:

A. Roelofs; N.A. Pertsev; R. Waser; F. Schlaphof; L.M. Eng; C. Ganpule; V. Nagarajan; Ramamoorthy Ramesh

Source:

Applied Physics Letters, Volume 80, Number 8, p.1424-1426 (2002)

Keywords:

Bottom electrodes, Depolarization, Depolarizing fields, Domain walls, Electric fields, Ferroelectric films, Ferroelectric thin films, In-plane polarization, Initial orientation, Out-of-plane, Piezoresponse force microscopy, Polarization, Polydomain, Switching, thin films, Transient polarization

Abstract:

Switching of the out-of-plane and in-plane polarizations in polydomain epitaxial PbZr0.2Ti0.8O3 thin films is studied using three-dimensional piezoresponse force microscopy (PFM). It is found that, under an electric field induced between the PFM tip and the bottom electrode, the 180° switching occurs in both c and a domains. After the removal of this field, the spontaneous reversal of the out-of-plane and in-plane polarizations back to the initial orientations takes place, evolving via heterogeneous development of antiparallel 180° domains. The switching of in-plane polarization inside a domains and the preferential formation of reversed 180° domains at 90° domain walls are explained by the effects of the depolarizing fields caused by transient polarization charges appearing on these domain walls. © 2002 American Institute of Physics.

Notes:

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