Nanoscale bubble domains with polar topologies in bulk ferroelectrics

• Published in: Nature communications Vol. 12; no. 1; pp. 3632 - 8
• Main Authors: Yin, Jie, Zong, Hongxiang, Tao, Hong, Tao, Xuefei, Wu, Haijun, Zhang, Yang, Zhao, Li-Dong, Ding, Xiangdong, Sun, Jun, Zhu, Jianguo, Wu, Jiagang, Pennycook, Stephen J.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: London Nature Publishing Group UK 15.06.2021; Nature Publishing Group; Nature Portfolio
• Subjects: 119/118; 147/137; 147/3; 639/301/119/996; 639/301/357/995; Bismuth titanate; Condensed matter physics; Domains; Evolution; Ferroelectric materials; Ferroelectricity; Ferroelectrics; Humanities and Social Sciences; Hypothetical particles; Morphology; multidisciplinary; Particle theory; Physical properties; Science; Science (multidisciplinary); Topology
• ISSN: 2041-1723; 2041-1723
• DOI: 10.1038/s41467-021-23863-w

Multitudinous topological configurations spawn oases of many physical properties and phenomena in condensed-matter physics. Nano-sized ferroelectric bubble domains with various polar topologies (e.g., vortices, skyrmions) achieved in ferroelectric films present great potential for valuable physical properties. However, experimentally manipulating bubble domains has remained elusive especially in the bulk form. Here, in any bulk material, we achieve self-confined bubble domains with multiple polar topologies in bulk Bi 0.5 Na 0.5 TiO 3 ferroelectrics, especially skyrmions, as validated by direct Z-contrast imaging. This phenomenon is driven by the interplay of bulk, elastic and electrostatic energies of coexisting modulated phases with strong and weak spontaneous polarizations. We demonstrate reversable and tip-voltage magnitude/time-dependent donut-like domain morphology evolution towards continuously and reversibly modulated high-density nonvolatile ferroelectric memories. Experimentally manipulating bubble domains remains elusive especially in the bulk form of ferroelectrics. Here, the authors achieve self-confined bubble domains with multiple polar topologies in bulk Bi0.5Na0.5TiO3 ferroelectrics, demonstrating reversible and donut-like domain morphology evolution.