Strain‐Driven Mixed‐Phase Domain Architectures and Topological Transitions in Pb1−xSrxTiO3 Thin Films
Abstract
The potential for creating hierarchical domain structures, or mixtures of energetically degenerate phases with distinct patterns that can be modified continually, in ferroelectric thin films offers a pathway to control their mesoscale structure beyond lattice‐mismatch strain with a substrate. Here, it is demonstrated that varying the strontium content provides deterministic strain‐driven control of hierarchical domain structures in Pb1−xSrxTiO3 solid‐solution thin films wherein two types, c/a and a1/a2, of nanodomains can coexist. Combining phase‐field simulations, epitaxial thin‐film growth, detailed structural, domain, and physical‐property characterization, it is observed that the system undergoes a gradual transformation (with increasing strontium content) from droplet‐like a1/a2 domains in a c/a domain matrix, to a connected‐labyrinth geometry of c/a domains, to a disconnected labyrinth structure of the same, and, finally, to droplet‐like c/a domains in an a1/a2 domain matrix. A relationship between the different mixed‐phase modulation patterns and its topological nature is established. Annealing the connected‐labyrinth structure leads to domain coarsening forming distinctive regions of parallel c/a and a1/a2 domain stripes, offering additional design flexibility. Finally, it is found that the connected‐labyrinth domain patterns exhibit the highest dielectric permittivity.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Pub Defense Publication
- Publication Date
- Aug 15, 2022
- Source ID
- 10.1002/adma.202203469
Entities
People
- Arvind Dasgupta
- Bo Wang
- Jacob A. Zorn
- Lane W Martin
- Long‐qing Chen
- Maya Ramesh
- Pravin Kavle
Organizations
- Army Research Office
- National Science Foundation
- Office of Basic Energy Sciences
- Pennsylvania State University