Low-energy structural dynamics of ferroelectric domain walls in hexagonal rare-earth manganites

Science Advances
Xiaoyu WuKeji Lai

Abstract

Domain walls (DWs) in ferroic materials, across which the order parameter abruptly changes its orientation, can host emergent properties that are absent in the bulk domains. Using a broadband (106 to 1010 Hz) scanning impedance microscope, we show that the electrical response of the interlocked antiphase boundaries and ferroelectric DWs in hexagonal rare-earth manganites (h-RMnO3) is dominated by the bound-charge oscillation rather than free-carrier conduction at the DWs. As a measure of the rate of energy dissipation, the effective conductivity of DWs on the (001) surfaces of h-RMnO3 at gigahertz frequencies is drastically higher than that at dc, whereas the effect is absent on surfaces with in-plane polarized domains. First-principles and model calculations indicate that the frequency range and selection rules are consistent with the periodic sliding of the DW around its equilibrium position. This acoustic wave-like mode, which is associated with the synchronized oscillation of local polarization and apical oxygen atoms, is localized perpendicular to the DW but free to propagate along the DW plane. Our results break the ground to understand structural DW dynamics and exploit new interfacial phenomena for novel devices.

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Citations

May 8, 2018·Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America·Lu ZhengKeji Lai
Jan 23, 2020·Advanced Materials·Yen-Lin HuangKeji Lai
Sep 28, 2017·Physical Review Letters·Jirka HlinkaPavel Marton
Sep 13, 2019·Materials·Pankaj SharmaJan Seidel
May 26, 2018·Science Advances·Shaobo ChengJing Zhu
Sep 12, 2018·Nature Nanotechnology·Jakob SchaabDennis Meier
Mar 17, 2018·Physical Review Letters·Hirofumi AkamatsuVenkatraman Gopalan
Apr 16, 2021·Nature·Qian LiHaidan Wen

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Methods Mentioned

BETA
atomic force microscopy
AFM
scanning electron microscopy

Software Mentioned

COMSOL

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