Polarization switching in quasiplanar BiFeO3 capacitors

• Main Authors: You, Lu, Liang, Elvin, Guo, Rui, Wu, Di, Yao, Kui, Chen, Lang, Wang, Junling
• Other Authors: School of Materials Science & Engineering
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: 2011
• Subjects: DRNTU::Engineering::Materials::Microelectronics and semiconductor materials::Thin films; DRNTU::Engineering::Materials::Magnetic materials
• Online Access: https://hdl.handle.net/10356/92049; http://hdl.handle.net/10220/6850
• Institution: Nanyang Technological University

Polarization switching in multiferroic BiFeO3 is studied using a quasiplanar capacitor geometry. Macroscopic quantitative hysteresis measurements using single-pair electrodes yield results that agree well with the theoretical predictions. Nanoscale ferroelectric domain analyses reveal that highly aligned 71° stripe domains are created upon electrical switching. Careful reconstruction of the polarization configuration demonstrates that in-plane polarization reversal is achieved by a coherent 71° switching mechanism, consistent with the macroscopic measurement results. Such control of polarization switching in quasiplanar BiFeO3 capacitors is crucial for the electrical control of the multifunctionality of BiFeO3.