Configurable topological textures in strain graded ferroelectric nanoplates

Kwang-Eun Kim, Seuri Jeong, Kanghyun Chu, Jin Hong Lee, Gi-Yeop Kim, Fei Xue, Tae Yeong Koo, Long-Qing Chen, Si-Young Choi, Ramamoorthy Ramesh and Chan-Ho Yang ()
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Kwang-Eun Kim: Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST)
Seuri Jeong: Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST)
Kanghyun Chu: Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST)
Jin Hong Lee: Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST)
Gi-Yeop Kim: Korea Institute of Materials Science
Fei Xue: The Pennsylvania State University
Tae Yeong Koo: Pohang Accelerator Laboratory, POSTECH
Long-Qing Chen: The Pennsylvania State University
Si-Young Choi: Korea Institute of Materials Science
Ramamoorthy Ramesh: University of California
Chan-Ho Yang: Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST)

Nature Communications, 2018, vol. 9, issue 1, 1-12

Abstract: Abstract Topological defects in matter behave collectively to form highly non-trivial structures called topological textures that are characterised by conserved quantities such as the winding number. Here we show that an epitaxial ferroelectric square nanoplate of bismuth ferrite subjected to a large strain gradient (as much as 105 m−1) associated with misfit strain relaxation enables five discrete levels for the ferroelectric topological invariant of the entire system because of its peculiar radial quadrant domain texture and its inherent domain wall chirality. The total winding number of the topological texture can be configured from − 1 to 3 by selective non-local electric switching of the quadrant domains. By using angle-resolved piezoresponse force microscopy in conjunction with local winding number analysis, we directly identify the existence of vortices and anti-vortices, observe pair creation and annihilation and manipulate the net number of vortices. Our findings offer a useful concept for multi-level topological defect memory.

Date: 2018
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DOI: 10.1038/s41467-017-02813-5

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