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Title: Intrinsic dynamics of the electric-field-induced phase switching in antiferroelectric PbZrO 3 ultrathin films

Journal Article · · Physical Review B

Antiferroelectric ultrathin PbZrO3 films can exhibit both ferroelectric and antiferroelectric behavior depending on the thickness. We use first-principles-based nanoscopic simulations to investigate the intrinsic high-frequency dynamics of the electric-field-induced phase switching in such films which so far remains unknown. Here in this comprehensive study we report (i) the size and frequency evolution of the polarization response to the electric field;(ii)the intrinsic time for the phase switching; (iii) detailed comparison between the polarization reversal in the films with ferroelectric and antiferroelectric behavior; (iv) dynamics of the antiferroelectric and antiferrodistortive order parameters; (v) nanoscopic mechanism responsible for the phase switching. The nanoscopic insight leads to the prediction of the existence of two possible scenarios for the antipolar-polar phase switching depending on the mutual orientation of the antiferroelectric order parameter and the electric field. The two scenarios have different dynamical fingerprints. The polar-antipolar phase switching is found to be assisted by the formation of a nonpolar phase. Computational data indicate that the phase switching time is only fractions of nanoseconds for the polar-polar phase switching in ferroelectric films and polar-antipolar phase switching in antiferroelectric films. The antipolar-polar phase switching in antiferroelectric films is just a bit slower and takes the order of nanosecond. Under nonequilibrium conditions we find formation of antiferroelectric and antiferrodistortive nanodomains and coexistence of polar and antipolar order parameters.

Research Organization:
Univ. of South Florida, Tampa, FL (United States). Dept. of Physics
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE Office of Science (SC), Basic Energy Sciences (BES)
Contributing Organization:
USF Research Computing, sponsored in part by National Science Foundation (NSF) MRI CHE-1531590
Grant/Contract Number:
SC0005245
OSTI ID:
1465752
Alternate ID(s):
OSTI ID: 1465609
Journal Information:
Physical Review B, Vol. 98, Issue 5; ISSN 2469-9950
Publisher:
American Physical Society (APS)Copyright Statement
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Citation Metrics:
Cited by: 5 works
Citation information provided by
Web of Science

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