Nanoscale periodic domain patterns in tetragonal ferroelectrics: A phase-field study
Ferroelectrics form domain patterns that minimize their energy subject to imposed boundary conditions. In a linear, constrained theory, that neglects domain wall energy, periodic domain patterns in the form of multi-rank laminates can be identified as minimum energy states. However, when these lami...
| Main Authors: | , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Journal article |
| Published: |
American Physical Society
2016
|
| _version_ | 1797100867789258752 |
|---|---|
| author | Huber, J Balakrishna, A Munch, I |
| author_facet | Huber, J Balakrishna, A Munch, I |
| author_sort | Huber, J |
| collection | OXFORD |
| description | Ferroelectrics form domain patterns that minimize their energy subject to imposed boundary conditions. In a linear, constrained theory, that neglects domain wall energy, periodic domain patterns in the form of multi-rank laminates can be identified as minimum energy states. However, when these laminates (formed in a macroscopic crystal) comprise of domains that are a few nanometers in size, the domain wall energy becomes significant, and the behaviour of laminate patterns at this scale is not known. Here, a phase-field model, which accounts for gradient energy and strain energy contributions, is employed to explore the stability and evolution of the nanoscale multi-rank laminates. The stress, electric field, and domain wall energies in the laminates are computed. The effect of scaling is also discussed. In the absence of external loading, stripe domain patterns are found to be lower energy states than the more complex, multi-rank laminates, which mostly collapse into simpler patterns. However, complex laminates can be stabilized by imposing external loads such as electric field, average strain and polarization. The study provides insight into the domain patterns that may form on a macroscopic single crystal but comprising of nanoscale periodic patterns, and on the effect of external loads on these patterns. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-07T05:43:46Z |
| format | Journal article |
| id | oxford-uuid:e67b9f26-683e-4e45-94c5-fb5caa8760b4 |
| institution | University of Oxford |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-07T05:43:46Z |
| publishDate | 2016 |
| publisher | American Physical Society |
| record_format | dspace |
| spelling | oxford-uuid:e67b9f26-683e-4e45-94c5-fb5caa8760b42022-03-27T10:31:30ZNanoscale periodic domain patterns in tetragonal ferroelectrics: A phase-field studyJournal articlehttp://purl.org/coar/resource_type/c_dcae04bcuuid:e67b9f26-683e-4e45-94c5-fb5caa8760b4Symplectic Elements at OxfordAmerican Physical Society2016Huber, JBalakrishna, AMunch, IFerroelectrics form domain patterns that minimize their energy subject to imposed boundary conditions. In a linear, constrained theory, that neglects domain wall energy, periodic domain patterns in the form of multi-rank laminates can be identified as minimum energy states. However, when these laminates (formed in a macroscopic crystal) comprise of domains that are a few nanometers in size, the domain wall energy becomes significant, and the behaviour of laminate patterns at this scale is not known. Here, a phase-field model, which accounts for gradient energy and strain energy contributions, is employed to explore the stability and evolution of the nanoscale multi-rank laminates. The stress, electric field, and domain wall energies in the laminates are computed. The effect of scaling is also discussed. In the absence of external loading, stripe domain patterns are found to be lower energy states than the more complex, multi-rank laminates, which mostly collapse into simpler patterns. However, complex laminates can be stabilized by imposing external loads such as electric field, average strain and polarization. The study provides insight into the domain patterns that may form on a macroscopic single crystal but comprising of nanoscale periodic patterns, and on the effect of external loads on these patterns. |
| spellingShingle | Huber, J Balakrishna, A Munch, I Nanoscale periodic domain patterns in tetragonal ferroelectrics: A phase-field study |
| title | Nanoscale periodic domain patterns in tetragonal ferroelectrics: A phase-field study |
| title_full | Nanoscale periodic domain patterns in tetragonal ferroelectrics: A phase-field study |
| title_fullStr | Nanoscale periodic domain patterns in tetragonal ferroelectrics: A phase-field study |
| title_full_unstemmed | Nanoscale periodic domain patterns in tetragonal ferroelectrics: A phase-field study |
| title_short | Nanoscale periodic domain patterns in tetragonal ferroelectrics: A phase-field study |
| title_sort | nanoscale periodic domain patterns in tetragonal ferroelectrics a phase field study |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT huberj nanoscaleperiodicdomainpatternsintetragonalferroelectricsaphasefieldstudy AT balakrishnaa nanoscaleperiodicdomainpatternsintetragonalferroelectricsaphasefieldstudy AT munchi nanoscaleperiodicdomainpatternsintetragonalferroelectricsaphasefieldstudy |