Photovoltaic creation of charged domain walls in barium titanate

TL;DR

This paper demonstrates the optical and electric field-induced creation of charged domain walls in barium titanate, leveraging the bulk photovoltaic effect for charge screening, supported by phase-field simulations.

Contribution

It introduces a method to reliably create charged domain walls in barium titanate using light and electric fields, highlighting the role of the bulk photovoltaic effect.

Findings

Charged domain walls can be optically and electrically induced in barium titanate.

The bulk photovoltaic effect provides charge screening at the domain walls.

Phase-field simulations support the proposed creation mechanism.

Abstract

The optical control of domain structures in ferroelectrics is of great interest. In the present work, we demonstrate the reliable creation of charged domain walls - conductive channels in otherwise insulating barium titanate - by a combined effect of light and electric field. We propose a scenario for the documented process, in which the bulk photovoltaic effect plays the key role, providing charge screening at the walls. Our scenario is supported by the results of phase-field simulations. The results are of interest for future reconfigurable electronic and opto-electronic devices.