Asymmetric ferroelectricity by design in atomic-layer superlattices with broken inversion symmetry
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
8-15-2021
Abstract
In atomic-layer superlattices constructed using three constituent phases, CaTiO3, SrTiO3, and BaTiO3, the stacking sequence of the atomic layers is found to control the symmetry of the high-temperature dielectric response. In such a superlattice when a nanostructured asymmetric strain is programmed into the lattice via the stacking order, the natural symmetry at high temperatures is removed and a polarized sample is obtained in which the polarization increases as the temperature is lowered. In contrast to a ferroelectric characterized by a bistable ground state with two equal and opposite electronic polarizations, our experiments show evidence of asymmetric ferroelectric correlations that set in when such a sample becomes hysteretic below a temperature Tx, with two unequal polarization states. We further show that both the magnitude and direction of this ferroelectric asymmetry can be controlled by the engineered atomic-layer stacking order and periodicity of the superlattice.
Publication Title
Physical Review B
Volume
104
Issue
8
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
10.1103/PhysRevB.104.085103
ISSN
24699950
E-ISSN
24699969
Citation Information
Warusawithana, Kengle, C. S., Zhan, X., Chen, H., Colla, E. V., O’Keeffe, M., Zuo, J.-M., Weissman, M. B., & Eckstein, J. N. (2021). Asymmetric ferroelectricity by design in atomic-layer superlattices with broken inversion symmetry. Physical Review. B, 104(8), 1–. https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevB.104.085103