Kinetic control of tunable multi-state switching in ferroelectric thin films.

ABSTRACT: Deterministic creation of multiple ferroelectric states with intermediate values of polarization remains challenging due to the inherent bi-stability of ferroelectric switching. Here we show the ability to select any desired intermediate polarization value via control of the switching pathway in (111)-oriented PbZr_0.2Ti_0.8O₃ films. Such switching phenomena are driven by kinetic control of the volume fraction of two geometrically different domain structures which are generated by two distinct switching pathways: one direct, bipolar-like switching and another multi-step switching process with the formation of a thermodynamically-stable intermediate twinning structure. Such control of switching pathways is enabled by the competition between elastic and electro

SUBMITTER: Xu R 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6427024 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature