The classical-to-quantum crossover in the strain-induced ferroelectric transition in SrTiO3 membranes

Li, Jiarui; Lee, Yonghun; Choi, Yongseong; Kim, Jong-Woo; Thompson, Paul; Crust, Kevin J.; Xu, Ruijuan; Hwang, Harold Y.; Ryan, Philip J.; Lee, Wei-Sheng

doi:10.1038/s41467-025-59517-4

The classical-to-quantum crossover in the strain-induced ferroelectric transition in SrTiO3 membranes

Journal Article · Tue May 13 00:00:00 EDT 2025 · Nature Communications

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-59517-4· OSTI ID:2563617

; ; ; ; Thompson, Paul; Crust, Kevin J.; ; ; ;

Mechanical strain presents an effective control over symmetry-breaking phase transitions. In quantum paralelectric SrTiO3, strain can induce ferroelectric order via modification of the local Ti potential energy landscape. However, brittle bulk materials can only withstand limited strain range (~0.1%). Taking advantage of nanoscopically-thin freestanding membranes, we demonstrate an in- situ strain-induced reversible ferroelectric transition in freestanding SrTiO3 membranes. We measure the ferroelectric order by detecting the local anisotropy of the Ti 3d orbital signature using x-ray linear dichroism at the Ti-K pre-edge, while the strain is determined by x-ray diffraction. With reduced thickness, the SrTiO3 membranes remain elastic with >1% tensile strain cycles. A robust displacive ferroelectricity appears beyond a temperature-dependent critical strain. Interestingly, we discover a crossover from a classical ferroelectric transition to a quantum regime at low temperatures, which enhances strain-induced ferroelectricity. Our results offer new opportunities to strain engineer functional properties in low dimensional quantum materials and provide new insights into the role of ferroelectric fluctuations in quantum paraelectric SrTiO3.

View Accepted Manuscript (DOE)

Research Organization:: SLAC National Accelerator Lab.

Sponsoring Organization:: USDOE Office of Science (SC), Basic Energy Sciences (BES). Materials Sciences & Engineering Division (MSE)

Grant/Contract Number:: AC02-06CH11357; AC02-76SF00515

OSTI ID:: 2563617

Journal Information:: Nature Communications, Journal Name: Nature Communications Journal Issue: 1 Vol. 16; ISSN 2041-1723

Publisher:: Springer Science and Business Media LLCCopyright Statement

Country of Publication:: United States

Language:: English

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