Dipole spring ferroelectrics in superlattice SrTiO3/BaTiO3 thin films exhibiting constricted hysteresis loops

Journal Article · Wed Feb 29 23:00:00 EST 2012 · Applied Physics Letters, 100(9):Article No. 092905

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.3691172· OSTI ID:1088647

Wu, Pingping; Ma, Xingqiao; Li, Yulan; Gopalan, Venkatraman; Chen, L. Q.

Ferroelectric superlattice heterostructures have recently been explored for potential applications in electronic devices. In this letter we employed the phase-field approach to simulate the domain structure and switching of a (BaTiO3)8/(SrTiO3)3 superlattice film constrained by a GdScO3 substrate. A constricted ferroelectric hysteresis loop was observed with a high saturation polarization but a small coercive field. The shape of the hysteresis loop is understood by analyzing the ferroelectric polarization distributions during switching. It is demonstrated that the constricted loop show a similar mechanism to the exchange coupling effect in magnetic multilayers.

• Research Organization: Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL), Richland, WA (US)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE
• DOE Contract Number: AC05-76RL01830
• OSTI ID: 1088647
• Report Number(s): PNNL-SA-82288
• Journal Information: Applied Physics Letters, 100(9):Article No. 092905, Journal Name: Applied Physics Letters, 100(9):Article No. 092905
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

ferroelectric hysteresis loop
phase-field approach
superlattice