Orthorhombic nitride perovskite CeTaN3-{\delta} with switchable and robust ferroelectric polarization

TL;DR

This paper reports the high-pressure synthesis of a novel orthorhombic nitride perovskite CeTaN3-{ extdelta} that exhibits switchable ferroelectric polarization, along with exceptional mechanical and chemical properties, opening new avenues for ferroelectric device applications.

Contribution

It is the first experimental realization of a ferroelectric nitride perovskite, demonstrating synthesis under high pressure and revealing its robust ferroelectric and other outstanding properties.

Findings

Successfully synthesized CeTaN3-{ extdelta} with orthorhombic structure

Exhibits switchable and robust ferroelectric polarization

Shows excellent mechanical properties and chemical inertness

Abstract

Perovskite-type ternary nitrides with predicted exciting ferroelectricity and many other outstanding properties hold great promise to be an emerging class of advanced ferroelectrics for manufacturing diverse technologically important devices. However, such nitride ferroelectrics have not yet been experimentally identified, mainly due to the challenging sample synthesis by traditional methods at ambient pressure. Here we report the successful high-pressure synthesis of a high-quality ferroelectric nitride perovskite of CeTaN3-{\delta} with nitrogen deficiency, adopting an orthorhombic Pmn21 polar structure. This material is electrically insulating and exhibits switchable and robust electric polarization for producing ferroelectricity. Furthermore, a number of other extraordinary properties are also revealed in this nitride such as excellent mechanical properties and chemical inertness, which would make it practically useful for many device-relevant applications and fundamentally important for the study of condensed-matter physics.