Lattice rotation vortex at the monoclinic ferroelectric domain boundary in relaxor ferroelectric crystal

TL;DR

This paper reports the discovery of lattice rotation vortices at ferroelectric domain boundaries in a relaxor ferroelectric crystal, revealing complex topological defects with potential implications for nanoscale device applications.

Contribution

It provides direct experimental evidence of lattice rotation vortices at domain boundaries in a relaxor ferroelectric, using advanced electron diffraction techniques.

Findings

Lattice rotation vortices have an average radius of ~7 nm.

Evidence of merging 2D and 1D topological defects.

Implications for domain-switching mechanisms and nanoscale ferroelectric devices.

Abstract

We present the evidence of lattice rotation vortices having an average radius of ~7 nm at the monoclinic ferroelectric domain boundary of (1-x)Pb(Zn1/3Nb2/3)O3-xPbTiO3 (PZN-xPT, x=0.08). Maps of crystal orientations, domain configurations, symmetry breaking are obtained using scanning convergent beam electron diffraction (SCBED). Such measurements suggest the merging of 2D and 1D topological defects, with implications for domain-switching mechanisms in relaxor ferroelectric crystals, and the possibility of a new form of nanoscale ferroelectric devices.