Polar State in Freestanding Strontium Titanate Nanoparticles

TL;DR

This study demonstrates that 10 nm strontium titanate nanoparticles exhibit a stable polar state over a broad temperature range, with potential applications in data storage due to their stability and low toxicity.

Contribution

It reveals the polar structural state of monodispersed SrTiO3 nanoparticles at nanoscale and their potential use in stable, low-toxicity data storage applications.

Findings

Nanoparticles are in a polar state over a broad temperature range.

No change in Ti-off centering between 20 and 300 K.

Reduced electronic hybridization in smaller particles.

Abstract

Monodispersed strontium titanate nanoparticles were prepared and studied in detail. It is found that ~10 nm as-prepared stoichiometric nanoparticles are in a polar structural state (with possibly ferroelectric properties) over a broad temperature range. A tetragonal structure, with possible reduction of the electronic hybridization is found as the particle size is reduced. In the 10 nm particles, no change in the local Ti-off centering is seen between 20 and 300 K. The results indicate that nanoscale motifs of SrTiO3 may be utilized in data storage as assembled nano-particle arrays in applications where chemical stability, temperature stability and low toxicity are critical issues.