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Direct Observation of Weakened Interface Clamping Effect Enabled Ferroelastic Domain Switching

29 Pages Posted: 7 Jan 2019 Publication Status: Accepted

See all articles by Mingqiang Li

Mingqiang Li

Peking University - Electron Microscopy Laboratory; Peking University - International Center for Quantum Materials; Peking University - Academy for Advanced Interdisciplinary Studies

Bo Wang

Pennsylvania State University - Department of Materials Science and Engineering

Heng-Jui Liu

National Chung Hsing University - Department of Materials Science and Engineering

Yen-Lin Huang

National Chiao Tung University - Department of Materials Science and Engineering

Jingmin Zhang

Peking University - Electron Microscopy Laboratory

Xiumei Ma

Peking University - Electron Microscopy Laboratory

Kaihui Liu

Peking University - Academy for Advanced Interdisciplinary Studies; Collaborative Innovation Centre of Quantum Matter; Peking University - State Key Laboratory for Mesoscopic Physics

Dapeng Yu

Peking University - Electron Microscopy Laboratory; Collaborative Innovation Centre of Quantum Matter; Peking University - State Key Laboratory for Mesoscopic Physics; South University of Science and Technology of China - Department of Physics

Ying-Hao Chu

National Chiao-Tung University - Department of Material Science and Engineering; Academia Sinica - Institute of Physics

Long-Qing Chen

Pennsylvania State University - Department of Materials Science and Engineering

Peng Gao

Peking University - Electron Microscopy Laboratory

Abstract

Reversible switching of non-180° ferroelastic domains that largely alters the local strain distribution enables many electromechanical, electromagnetic and electroacoustic applications. However, in thin films, the ferroelastic domain walls are usually believed to be immobile because of the interface clamping and/or dislocation pinning. Here, using in situ and aberration-corrected transmission electron microscopy, we directly observe reversible switching of individual 90° domains in dislocation-free PbTiO3 thin films and uncover the weakened interface clamping effect. We find the tetragonality is suppressed to ~1.017 while the polarization vectors rotate 45° in a-domain near the interface. These huge structural distortions at the interface is mainly responsible for the weakened clamping effect and thus the ability to switch ferroelastic domains. The switching is fully reversible (i.e., either electric field or mechanical stress can re-establish the erased domain) regardless of polarization orientation of the c-domain matrix. Phase-field modeling also shows excellent agreements with experimental observations. Our study reveals the mechanism of controllable and reversible ferroelastic domain switching, enabling the design of new actuators, sensors, and electromagnetic devices.

Keywords: ferroelastic, domain switching, in situ transmission electron microscopy (TEM), atomic structure, interfaces

Suggested Citation

Li, Mingqiang and Wang, Bo and Liu, Heng-Jui and Huang, Yen-Lin and Zhang, Jingmin and Ma, Xiumei and Liu, Kaihui and Yu, Dapeng and Chu, Ying-Hao and Chen, Long-Qing and Gao, Peng, Direct Observation of Weakened Interface Clamping Effect Enabled Ferroelastic Domain Switching (January 4, 2019). Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=3310259 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.3310259

Mingqiang Li (Contact Author)

Peking University - Electron Microscopy Laboratory

Beijing, 100871
China

Peking University - International Center for Quantum Materials

Beijing, 100871
China

Peking University - Academy for Advanced Interdisciplinary Studies

Beijing, 100871
China

Bo Wang

Pennsylvania State University - Department of Materials Science and Engineering

University Park
State College, PA 16802
United States

Heng-Jui Liu

National Chung Hsing University - Department of Materials Science and Engineering

Taichung, 40227
Taiwan

Yen-Lin Huang

National Chiao Tung University - Department of Materials Science and Engineering

Hsinchu, 30010
Taiwan

Jingmin Zhang

Peking University - Electron Microscopy Laboratory

Beijing, 100871
China

Xiumei Ma

Peking University - Electron Microscopy Laboratory

Beijing, 100871
China

Kaihui Liu

Peking University - Academy for Advanced Interdisciplinary Studies

Beijing, 100871
China

Collaborative Innovation Centre of Quantum Matter

Beijing, 100871
China

Peking University - State Key Laboratory for Mesoscopic Physics

Beijing, 100871
China

Dapeng Yu

Peking University - Electron Microscopy Laboratory

Beijing, 100871
China

Collaborative Innovation Centre of Quantum Matter

Beijing, 100871
China

Peking University - State Key Laboratory for Mesoscopic Physics

Beijing, 100871
China

South University of Science and Technology of China - Department of Physics

Shenzhen, 518055
China

Ying-Hao Chu

National Chiao-Tung University - Department of Material Science and Engineering ( email )

1001 University Road
Taiwan, ROC 300
Taiwan

Academia Sinica - Institute of Physics ( email )

Taipei, 11529
Taiwan

Long-Qing Chen

Pennsylvania State University - Department of Materials Science and Engineering ( email )

University Park
State College, PA 16802
United States

Peng Gao

Peking University - Electron Microscopy Laboratory ( email )

Beijing, 100871
China

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