Manipulating topological transformations of polar structures through real-time observation of the dynamic polarization evolution

Du, K.; Zhang, M.; Dai, C.; Zhou, Z. N.; Xie, Y. W.; Ren, Z. H.; Tian, H.; Chen, L. Q.; Van Tendeloo, Gustaaf; Zhang, Z.

doi:10.1038/s41467-019-12864-5

Manipulating topological transformations of polar structures through real-time observation of the dynamic polarization evolution

Journal Article · Fri Oct 25 00:00:00 EDT 2019 · Nature Communications

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-019-12864-5· OSTI ID:1624209

Du, K. ^[1]; ^[2]; Dai, C. ^[3]; Zhou, Z. N. ^[4]; ^[2]; Ren, Z. H. ^[5]; ^[6]; Chen, L. Q. ^[7]; Van Tendeloo, Gustaaf ^[8]; Zhang, Z. ^[9]

Zhejiang Univ., Hangzhou (China). Center of Electron Microscopy, School of Materials Science and Engineering; DOE/OSTI
Zhejiang Univ., Hangzhou (China). Dept. of Physics
Pennsylvania State Univ., State College, PA (United States). Dept. of Materials Science and Engineering
Zhejiang Univ., Hangzhou (China). Center of Electron Microscopy, School of Materials Science and Engineering
Zhejiang Univ., Hangzhou (China). State Key Laboratory of Silicon Materials, School of Materials Science and Engineering
Zhejiang Univ., Hangzhou (China). Center of Electron Microscopy, School of Materials Science and Engineering; Zhejiang Univ., Hangzhou (China). State Key Laboratory of Silicon Materials, School of Materials Science and Engineering
Pennsylvania State Univ., State College, PA (United States). Dept. of Materials Science and Engineering
Univ. of Antwerp, Antwerp (Belgium). Electron Microscopy for Materials Science (EMAT); Wuhan Univ. (China) Wuhan Univ. of Technology (China). Nanostructure Research Centre (NRC)
Zhejiang Univ., Hangzhou (China). Center of Electron Microscopy, School of Materials Science and Engineering; Zhejiang Univ., Hangzhou (China). State Key Laboratory of Silicon Materials, School of Materials Science and Engineering

Topological structures based on controllable ferroelectric or ferromagnetic domain configurations offer the opportunity to develop microelectronic devices such as high-density memories. Despite the increasing experimental and theoretical insights into various domain structures (such as polar spirals, polar wave, polar vortex) over the past decade, manipulating the topological transformations of polar structures and comprehensively understanding its underlying mechanism remains lacking. By conducting an in-situ non-contact bias technique, here we systematically investigate the real-time topological transformations of polar structures in PbTiO₃/SrTiO₃ multilayers at an atomic level. The procedure of vortex pair splitting and the transformation from polar vortex to polar wave and out-of-plane polarization are observed step by step. Furthermore, the redistribution of charge in various topological structures has been demonstrated under an external bias. This provides new insights for the symbiosis of polar and charge and offers an opportunity for a new generation of microelectronic devices.

View Accepted Manuscript (DOE)

Research Organization:: Pennsylvania State Univ., University Park, PA (United States)

Sponsoring Organization:: USDOE Office of Science (SC), Basic Energy Sciences (BES)

Grant/Contract Number:: SC0012375

OSTI ID:: 1624209

Journal Information:: Nature Communications, Journal Name: Nature Communications Journal Issue: 1 Vol. 10; ISSN 2041-1723

Publisher:: Nature Publishing GroupCopyright Statement

Country of Publication:: United States

Language:: English

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