TY - JOUR
T1 - Manipulating Ferroelectric Domains in Nanostructures Under Electron Beams
AU - Ahluwalia, R.
AU - Ng, N.
AU - Schilling, A.
AU - McQuaid, R. G. P.
AU - Evans, D. M.
AU - Gregg, J. M.
AU - Srolovitz, D. J.
AU - Scott, J. F.
PY - 2013/10/18
Y1 - 2013/10/18
N2 - Freestanding BaTiO3 nanodots exhibit domain structures characterized by distinct quadrants of ferroelastic 90° domains in transmission electron microscopy (TEM) observations. These differ significantly from flux-closure domain patterns in the same systems imaged by piezoresponse force microscopy. Based upon a series of phase field simulations of BaTiO3 nanodots, we suggest that the TEM patterns result from a radial electric field arising from electron beam charging of the nanodot. For sufficiently large charging, this converts flux-closure domain patterns to quadrant patterns with radial net polarizations. Not only does this explain the puzzling patterns that have been observed in TEM studies of ferroelectric nanodots, but also suggests how to manipulate ferroelectric domain patterns via electron beams.
AB - Freestanding BaTiO3 nanodots exhibit domain structures characterized by distinct quadrants of ferroelastic 90° domains in transmission electron microscopy (TEM) observations. These differ significantly from flux-closure domain patterns in the same systems imaged by piezoresponse force microscopy. Based upon a series of phase field simulations of BaTiO3 nanodots, we suggest that the TEM patterns result from a radial electric field arising from electron beam charging of the nanodot. For sufficiently large charging, this converts flux-closure domain patterns to quadrant patterns with radial net polarizations. Not only does this explain the puzzling patterns that have been observed in TEM studies of ferroelectric nanodots, but also suggests how to manipulate ferroelectric domain patterns via electron beams.
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U2 - 10.1103/PhysRevLett.111.165702
DO - 10.1103/PhysRevLett.111.165702
M3 - RGC 21 - Publication in refereed journal
SN - 0031-9007
VL - 111
JO - Physical Review Letters
JF - Physical Review Letters
IS - 16
M1 - 165702
ER -