Atomic-Scale Characterization of 180° Conductive Domain Walls in PbZr_0.1Ti_0.9O₃

Koutsogiannis, Panagiotis ; Risch, Felix ; Pardo, José A. (Universidad de Zaragoza) ; Stolichnov, Igor ; Magén, César

Resumen: Conductive domain walls (DWs) in ferroic materials have emerged as promising candidates for applications in nanoelectronics due to their unique properties such as high conductivity and nonvolatility. In this study, we investigate the atomic structure and conductivity of nominally neutral 180° DWs artificially created in an epitaxial thin film of tetragonal PbZr0.1Ti0.9O3. Using piezoresponse force microscopy and scanning transmission electron microscopy, we elucidate the complex structure of these 180° DWs and their coupling with ferroelastic domains, revealing that they exhibit a complex structure due to the strain-mediated interplay with the ferroelastic domains. Our results demonstrate that the 180° DWs conductivity is associated with the emergence of polar discontinuities, including the formation of tail-to-tail charged segments, which has been further confirmed by electron energy loss spectroscopy. Additionally, we investigated the long-term performance of these domain boundaries, demonstrating their unique mobility and structural stability. Our findings provide insights into the atomic-scale mechanisms that turn nominally neutral DWs into highly conductive channels, paving the way for their use in advanced nanoelectronic devices.

Idioma: Inglés

DOI: 10.1021/acsami.4c11565

Año: 2024

Publicado en: ACS applied materials & interfaces 16, 48 (2024), 66341-66349
ISSN: 1944-8244

Factor impacto JCR: 8.2 (2024)

Categ. JCR: NANOSCIENCE & NANOTECHNOLOGY rank: 31 / 147 = 0.211 (2024) - Q1 - T1
Categ. JCR: MATERIALS SCIENCE, MULTIDISCIPLINARY rank: 83 / 460 = 0.18 (2024) - Q1 - T1

Factor impacto SCIMAGO: 1.921 - Materials Science (miscellaneous) (Q1) - Nanoscience and Nanotechnology (Q1) - Medicine (miscellaneous) (Q1)

Financiación: info:eu-repo/grantAgreement/ES/AEI/CEX2023-001286-S
Financiación: info:eu-repo/grantAgreement/ES/DGA/E13-23R
Financiación: info:eu-repo/grantAgreement/ES/DGA-FEDER E28-23R
Financiación: info:eu-repo/grantAgreement/EC/H2020/ 861153/EU/Materials for Neuromorphic Circuits/MANIC
Financiación: info:eu-repo/grantAgreement/ES/MICINN-AEI/PID2020-112914RB-I00

Tipo y forma: Artículo (Versión definitiva)

Área (Departamento): Área Cienc.Mater. Ingen.Metal. (Dpto. Ciencia Tecnol.Mater.Fl.)