DOE OSTI · 2586828
Reversible long-range domain wall motion in an improper ferroelectric
Abstract
Reversible ferroelectric domain wall movements beyond the 10 nm range associated with Rayleigh behavior are usually restricted to specific defect-engineered systems. Here, we demonstrate that such long-range movements naturally occur in the improper ferroelectric ErMnO 3 during electric-field-cycling. We study the electric-field-driven motion of domain walls, showing that they readily return to their initial position after having traveled distances exceeding 250 nm. By applying switching spectroscopy band-excitation piezoresponse force microscopy, we track the domain wall movement with nanometric spatial precision and analyze the local switching behavior. Phase field simulations show that the reversible long-range motion is intrinsic to the hexagonal manganites, linking it to their improper ferroelectricity and topologically protected structural vortex lines, which serve as anchor point for the ferroelectric domain walls. Our results give new insight into the local dynamics of domain walls in improper ferroelectrics and demonstrate the possibility to reversibly displace domain walls over much larger distances than commonly expected for ferroelectric systems in their pristine state, ensuring predictable device behavior for applications such as tunable capacitors or sensors.
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Zahn, Manuel [Norwegian Univ. of Science and Technology, Trondheim (Norway); Univ. of Augsburg (Germany)] (ORCID:0000000307393049), Müller, Aaron Merlin [Eidgenoessische Technische Hochschule (ETH), Zurich (Switzerland)] (ORCID:0000000324664939), Kelley, Kyle P. [Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN (United States). Center for Nanophase Materials Sciences (CNMS)] (ORCID:0000000276880484), Neumayer, Sabine [Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN (United States). Center for Nanophase Materials Sciences (CNMS)] (ORCID:0000000281671230), Kalinin, Sergei V. [Univ. of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN (United States)] (ORCID:0000000153546152), Kézsmarki, István [Univ. of Augsburg (Germany)] (ORCID:0000000347063247), Fiebig, Manfred [Eidgenoessische Technische Hochschule (ETH), Zurich (Switzerland)] (ORCID:0000000349987179), Lottermoser, Thomas [Eidgenoessische Technische Hochschule (ETH), Zurich (Switzerland)] (ORCID:0000000229417446), Marimon, Neus Domingo [Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN (United States). Center for Nanophase Materials Sciences (CNMS)] (ORCID:0000000252296638), Meier, Dennis [Norwegian Univ. of Science and Technology, Trondheim (Norway)] (ORCID:0000000286236705), Schultheiß, Jan [Norwegian Univ. of Science and Technology, Trondheim (Norway); Univ. of Canterbury, Christchurch (New Zealand)] (ORCID:0000000173891295). 2025-02-19. Reversible long-range domain wall motion in an improper ferroelectric. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-57062-8
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