Evolution of domain structure with electron doping in ferroelectric thin films

TL;DR

This study models how electron doping influences the domain structures in ferroelectric thin films, revealing a transition from nanoscale domains to zigzag walls and the role of electron gas in screening depolarizing fields.

Contribution

It provides a self-consistent theoretical framework for understanding electron doping effects on ferroelectric domain evolution in thin films, based on coupled Landau-Ginzburg-Devonshire and Schrödinger equations.

Findings

Electron doping destabilizes nanoscale Kittel domains.

Increased electron density causes a transition to zigzag domain walls.

Electron gas screens depolarizing fields and can be manipulated externally.

Abstract

To minimize their electrostatic energy, insulating ferroelectric films tend to break up into nanoscale ``Kittel'' domains of opposite polarization that are separated by uncharged 180$^\circ$ domain walls. Here, I report on self-consistent solutions of coupled Landau-Ginzburg-Devonshire and Schr\"odinger equations for an electron-doped ferroelectric thin film. The model is based on LaAlO$_3$/SrTiO$_3$ interfaces in which the SrTiO$_3$ substrate is made ferroelectric by cation substitution or strain. I find that electron doping destabilizes the Kittel domains. As the two-dimensional electron density $n_\mathrm{2D}$ increases, there is a smooth crossover to a zigzag domain wall configuration. The domain wall is positively charged, but is compensated by the electron gas, which attaches itself to the domain wall and screens depolarizing fields. The domain wall approaches a flat head-to-head configuration in the limit of perfect screening. The polarization profile may be manipulated by an external bias voltage and the electron gas may be switched between surfaces of the ferroelectric film.