Topological ferroelectric chirality

TL;DR

This paper reviews recent progress in topological ferroelectric materials, highlighting their chiral properties, controllability, and potential applications in nano-optoelectronics, plasmonics, and biomedical fields.

Contribution

It provides a comprehensive overview of the topological origin of chirality in ferroelectrics and discusses new methods for tunability and manipulation of chiral responses.

Findings

Identification of topological chiral states in ferroelectric nanostructures

Development of techniques for tunable chiroptical responses

Potential applications in nano-optoelectronics and biomedical industries

Abstract

Chirality, an inherent property of most objects of the universe, is a dynamic research topic in material science, physics, chemistry, and biology. The fundamental appeal of this extensive study is supported by the technological quest to manufacture materials with configurable chiralities for emerging applications ranging from optoelectronics and photonics to pharmaceutics and medicine. Recent advances put forth ferroelectrics as a host of chiral topological states in the form of Bloch domain walls, skyrmions, merons, and Hopfions, offering thus a unique ground for making chirality switchable and tunable. Here we review current developments, milestones achieved, and future routes of chiral ferroelectric materials. We focus on insights into the topological origin of the chirality in the nanostructured ferroelectrics, bringing new controllable functionalities. We pay special attention to novel developments enabling tunability and manipulating the chiroptical response and enantioselectivity, leading to new applications in nano-optoelectronics, plasmonics, pharmaceutics, and bio-medical industries.