Low-symmetry monoclinic phases and polarization rotation path mediated by epitaxial strain in multiferroic BiFeO3 thin films

Zuhuang Chen; Zhenlin Luo; Chuanwei Huang; Yajun Qi; Ping Yang; Lu You; Chuansheng Hu; Tom Wu; Junling Wang; Chen Gao; Thirumany Sritharan; Lang Chen

doi:10.1002/adfm.201001867

Low-symmetry monoclinic phases and polarization rotation path mediated by epitaxial strain in multiferroic BiFeO₃ thin films

Zuhuang Chen, Zhenlin Luo, Chuanwei Huang, Yajun Qi, Ping Yang, Lu You, Chuansheng Hu, Tom Wu, Junling Wang, Chen Gao, Thirumany Sritharan, Lang Chen

Research output: Journal Publications and Reviews › RGC 21 - Publication in refereed journal › peer-review

245 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

A morphotropic phase boundary driven by epitaxial strain has been observed in lead-free multiferroic BiFeO3 thin films and the strain-driven phase transitions have been widely reported as iso-symmetric Cc-Cc by recent works. In this paper, it is suggested that the tetragonal-like BiFeO3 phase identified in epitaxial films on (001) LaAlO3 single crystal substrates is monoclinic MC. This MC phase is different from the MA type monoclinic phase reported in BiFeO3 films grown on low mismatch substrates, such as SrTiO3. This is confirmed not only by synchrotron X-ray studies but also by piezoresponse force microscopy measurements. The polarization vectors of the tetragonal-like phase lie in the (100) plane, not the (110) plane as previously reported. A phenomenological analysis is proposed to explain the formation of MC Phase. Such a low-symmetry MC phase, with its linkage to MA phase and the multiphase coexistence open an avenue for large piezoelectric response in BiFeO3 films and shed light on a complete understanding of possible polarization rotation paths and enhanced multiferroicity in BiFeO3 films mediated by epitaxial strain. This work may also aid the understanding of developing new lead-free strain-driven morphotropic phase boundary in other ferroic systems. Strain-mediated polarization rotation for BiFeO3 films is shown in the figure. Starting from the strain-free rhombohedral (R) phase, the strain-induced transition path is R to Ma by compressive strains or R to Mb by tensile strains. At large enough compressive strains, the Ma to Mc phase transition occurs and brings about a sudden increase in the c-lattice parameter. This new rotation path indicates a soft lattice for BiFeO3 and a tunable behavior by strains where the polarization rotation paths could be mediated in the same way as in those driven by electric field, chemical composition, pressure, and temperature. Copyright © 2011 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	133-138
Journal	Advanced Functional Materials
Volume	21
Issue number	1
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1002/adfm.201001867
Publication status	Published - 7 Jan 2011
Externally published	Yes

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Publication details (e.g. title, author(s), publication statuses and dates) are captured on an “AS IS” and “AS AVAILABLE” basis at the time of record harvesting from the data source. Suggestions for further amendments or supplementary information can be sent to [email protected].

Research Keywords

BiFeO3
monoclinic phase
morphotropic phase boundary
multiferroic materials
strain

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@article{0194acfd48f94bf9add488246e68b4b5,

title = "Low-symmetry monoclinic phases and polarization rotation path mediated by epitaxial strain in multiferroic BiFeO3 thin films",

abstract = "A morphotropic phase boundary driven by epitaxial strain has been observed in lead-free multiferroic BiFeO3 thin films and the strain-driven phase transitions have been widely reported as iso-symmetric Cc-Cc by recent works. In this paper, it is suggested that the tetragonal-like BiFeO3 phase identified in epitaxial films on (001) LaAlO3 single crystal substrates is monoclinic MC. This MC phase is different from the MA type monoclinic phase reported in BiFeO3 films grown on low mismatch substrates, such as SrTiO3. This is confirmed not only by synchrotron X-ray studies but also by piezoresponse force microscopy measurements. The polarization vectors of the tetragonal-like phase lie in the (100) plane, not the (110) plane as previously reported. A phenomenological analysis is proposed to explain the formation of MC Phase. Such a low-symmetry MC phase, with its linkage to MA phase and the multiphase coexistence open an avenue for large piezoelectric response in BiFeO3 films and shed light on a complete understanding of possible polarization rotation paths and enhanced multiferroicity in BiFeO3 films mediated by epitaxial strain. This work may also aid the understanding of developing new lead-free strain-driven morphotropic phase boundary in other ferroic systems. Strain-mediated polarization rotation for BiFeO3 films is shown in the figure. Starting from the strain-free rhombohedral (R) phase, the strain-induced transition path is R to Ma by compressive strains or R to Mb by tensile strains. At large enough compressive strains, the Ma to Mc phase transition occurs and brings about a sudden increase in the c-lattice parameter. This new rotation path indicates a soft lattice for BiFeO3 and a tunable behavior by strains where the polarization rotation paths could be mediated in the same way as in those driven by electric field, chemical composition, pressure, and temperature. Copyright {\textcopyright} 2011 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.",

keywords = "BiFeO3, monoclinic phase, morphotropic phase boundary, multiferroic materials, strain",

author = "Zuhuang Chen and Zhenlin Luo and Chuanwei Huang and Yajun Qi and Ping Yang and Lu You and Chuansheng Hu and Tom Wu and Junling Wang and Chen Gao and Thirumany Sritharan and Lang Chen",

note = "Publication details (e.g. title, author(s), publication statuses and dates) are captured on an “AS IS” and “AS AVAILABLE” basis at the time of record harvesting from the data source. Suggestions for further amendments or supplementary information can be sent to [email protected].",

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T1 - Low-symmetry monoclinic phases and polarization rotation path mediated by epitaxial strain in multiferroic BiFeO3 thin films

AU - Chen, Zuhuang

AU - Luo, Zhenlin

AU - Huang, Chuanwei

AU - Qi, Yajun

AU - Yang, Ping

AU - You, Lu

AU - Hu, Chuansheng

AU - Wu, Tom

AU - Wang, Junling

AU - Gao, Chen

AU - Sritharan, Thirumany

AU - Chen, Lang

N1 - Publication details (e.g. title, author(s), publication statuses and dates) are captured on an “AS IS” and “AS AVAILABLE” basis at the time of record harvesting from the data source. Suggestions for further amendments or supplementary information can be sent to [email protected].

PY - 2011/1/7

Y1 - 2011/1/7

N2 - A morphotropic phase boundary driven by epitaxial strain has been observed in lead-free multiferroic BiFeO3 thin films and the strain-driven phase transitions have been widely reported as iso-symmetric Cc-Cc by recent works. In this paper, it is suggested that the tetragonal-like BiFeO3 phase identified in epitaxial films on (001) LaAlO3 single crystal substrates is monoclinic MC. This MC phase is different from the MA type monoclinic phase reported in BiFeO3 films grown on low mismatch substrates, such as SrTiO3. This is confirmed not only by synchrotron X-ray studies but also by piezoresponse force microscopy measurements. The polarization vectors of the tetragonal-like phase lie in the (100) plane, not the (110) plane as previously reported. A phenomenological analysis is proposed to explain the formation of MC Phase. Such a low-symmetry MC phase, with its linkage to MA phase and the multiphase coexistence open an avenue for large piezoelectric response in BiFeO3 films and shed light on a complete understanding of possible polarization rotation paths and enhanced multiferroicity in BiFeO3 films mediated by epitaxial strain. This work may also aid the understanding of developing new lead-free strain-driven morphotropic phase boundary in other ferroic systems. Strain-mediated polarization rotation for BiFeO3 films is shown in the figure. Starting from the strain-free rhombohedral (R) phase, the strain-induced transition path is R to Ma by compressive strains or R to Mb by tensile strains. At large enough compressive strains, the Ma to Mc phase transition occurs and brings about a sudden increase in the c-lattice parameter. This new rotation path indicates a soft lattice for BiFeO3 and a tunable behavior by strains where the polarization rotation paths could be mediated in the same way as in those driven by electric field, chemical composition, pressure, and temperature. Copyright © 2011 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.

AB - A morphotropic phase boundary driven by epitaxial strain has been observed in lead-free multiferroic BiFeO3 thin films and the strain-driven phase transitions have been widely reported as iso-symmetric Cc-Cc by recent works. In this paper, it is suggested that the tetragonal-like BiFeO3 phase identified in epitaxial films on (001) LaAlO3 single crystal substrates is monoclinic MC. This MC phase is different from the MA type monoclinic phase reported in BiFeO3 films grown on low mismatch substrates, such as SrTiO3. This is confirmed not only by synchrotron X-ray studies but also by piezoresponse force microscopy measurements. The polarization vectors of the tetragonal-like phase lie in the (100) plane, not the (110) plane as previously reported. A phenomenological analysis is proposed to explain the formation of MC Phase. Such a low-symmetry MC phase, with its linkage to MA phase and the multiphase coexistence open an avenue for large piezoelectric response in BiFeO3 films and shed light on a complete understanding of possible polarization rotation paths and enhanced multiferroicity in BiFeO3 films mediated by epitaxial strain. This work may also aid the understanding of developing new lead-free strain-driven morphotropic phase boundary in other ferroic systems. Strain-mediated polarization rotation for BiFeO3 films is shown in the figure. Starting from the strain-free rhombohedral (R) phase, the strain-induced transition path is R to Ma by compressive strains or R to Mb by tensile strains. At large enough compressive strains, the Ma to Mc phase transition occurs and brings about a sudden increase in the c-lattice parameter. This new rotation path indicates a soft lattice for BiFeO3 and a tunable behavior by strains where the polarization rotation paths could be mediated in the same way as in those driven by electric field, chemical composition, pressure, and temperature. Copyright © 2011 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.

KW - BiFeO3

KW - monoclinic phase

KW - morphotropic phase boundary

KW - multiferroic materials

KW - strain

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DO - 10.1002/adfm.201001867

M3 - RGC 21 - Publication in refereed journal

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JO - Advanced Functional Materials

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