Suchergebnisse

Using scanning probe microscopy, we measure the out-of-plane mechanical response of ferroelectric 180° domain walls and observe that, despite separating domains that are mechanically identical, the walls appear mechanically distinct—softer—compared to the domains. This effect is observed in different ferroelectric materials (LiNbO3, BaTiO3, and PbTiO3) and with different morphologies (from single crystals to thin films), suggesting that the effect is universal. We propose a theoretical framework that explains the domain wall softening and justifies that the effect should be common to all ferroelectrics. The lesson is, therefore, that domain walls are not only functionally different from the domains they separate, but also mechanically distinct. ; C. S. thanks BIST for the PREBIST Grant. This projecthas received funding from the European Union's Horizon 2020 research and innovation program under the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Grant Agreement No. 754558. E. L. acknowledges the funding received from the European Union's Horizon 2020 research and innovation program through the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions: Individual Fellowship-Global Fellowship (Ref. No. MSCA-IF-GF708129). M. S. and K. S. acknowledge the support of the European Research Council under the European Union's Horizon 2020 research and innovation program (Grant Agreement No. 724529), Ministerio de Economia, Industria y Competitividad through Grants No. MAT2016- 77100-C2-2-P and No. SEV-2015-0496, and the Generalitat de Catalunya (Grant No. 2017SGR 1506). G. C. acknowledge the support of the Ministerio de Economía, Industria y Competitividad, Agencia Estatal de Investigación/Fondo Europeo de Desarrollo Regional and European Union through Grant No. MAT2016-77100-C2-1-P (MINECO/AEI/FEDER, UE). ; Peer reviewed