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Article
Nanoscale Mechanical Switching of Ferroelectric Polarization Via Flexoelectricity
Applied Physics Letters
  • Yijia Gu, Missouri University of Science and Technology
  • Zijian Hong
  • Jason Britson
  • Long-Qing Chen
Abstract

Flexoelectric coefficient is a fourth-rank tensor arising from the coupling between strain gradient and electric polarization and thus exists in all crystals. It is generally ignored for macroscopic crystals due to its small magnitude. However, at the nanoscale, flexoelectric contributions may become significant and can potentially be utilized for device applications. Using the phase-field method, we study the mechanical switching of electric polarization in ferroelectric thin films by a strain gradient created via an atomic force microscope tip. Our simulation results show good agreement with existing experimental observations. We examine the competition between the piezoelectric and flexoelectric effects and provide an understanding of the role of flexoelectricity in the polarization switching. Also, by changing the pressure and film thickness, we reveal that the flexoelectric field at the film bottom can be used as a criterion to determine whether domain switching may happen under a mechanical force.

Department(s)
Materials Science and Engineering
Keywords and Phrases
  • Atomic force microscopy,
  • Ferroelectric films,
  • Ferroelectric thin films,
  • Ferroelectricity,
  • Nanotechnology,
  • Phase transitions,
  • Single crystals,
  • Switching, Electric polarization,
  • Ferroelectric polarization,
  • Flexoelectric coefficients,
  • Flexoelectric effects,
  • Fourth-rank tensors,
  • Mechanical switching,
  • Phase field methods,
  • Polarization switching, Polarization
Document Type
Article - Journal
Document Version
Final Version
File Type
text
Language(s)
English
Rights
© 2015 American Institute of Physics (AIP), All rights reserved.
Publication Date
1-1-2015
Publication Date
01 Jan 2015
Citation Information
Yijia Gu, Zijian Hong, Jason Britson and Long-Qing Chen. "Nanoscale Mechanical Switching of Ferroelectric Polarization Via Flexoelectricity" Applied Physics Letters Vol. 106 Iss. 2 (2015) ISSN: 0003-6951; 1077-3118
Available at: http://works.bepress.com/yijia-gu/56/