Single- and multi-domain ferroelectricity driven by interfaces

TL;DR

This paper explores how interfacial bonding at metal-oxide interfaces influences the formation of single- or multi-domain ferroelectricity, providing analytical criteria to tailor ferroelectric properties at the nanoscale.

Contribution

It introduces an analytical criterion linking interface properties with ferroelectric and electrode parameters to determine domain structures in ferroelectric capacitors.

Findings

Interfacial properties critically influence ferroelectric domain configurations.

Analytical criterion predicts single- vs. multi-domain ferroelectricity.

Interface engineering offers new ways to tailor ferroelectric functionalities.

Abstract

The design of the interfacial bondings at metal-oxide interfaces yields exciting new phenomena and can be a route to sustain, and even promote, ferroelectricity at the nanoscale. We study the impact of these interfaces on the nature of the spontaneous polarization (single- vs. multi-domain) of ferroelectric capacitors. We show that interfacial properties intertwine with both ferrolectric and electrode parameters to determine the actual ground state of the system. We find analytically the criterion that specifies if ferroelectricity appears in a single- or multi- domain fashion as a result of this intertwining. The physics behind this criterion suggests new means for tailoring ferroelectric functionalities.