Photostrictive Actuators Based on Freestanding Ferroelectric Membranes

Complex oxides offer a wide range of functional properties, and recent advances in the fabrication of freestanding membranes of these oxides are adding new mechanical degrees of freedom to this already rich functional ecosystem. Here, photoactuation is demonstrated in freestanding thin film resonators of ferroelectric Barium Titanate (BaTiO₃) and paraelectric Strontium Titanate (SrTiO₃). The free-standing films, transferred onto perforated supports, act as nano-drums, oscillating at their natural resonance frequency when illuminated by a frequency-modulated laser. The light-induced deflections in the ferroelectric BaTiO₃ membranes are two orders of magnitude larger than in the paraelectric SrTiO₃ ones. Time-resolved X-ray micro-diffraction under illumination and temperature-dependent holographic interferometry provide combined evidence for the photostrictive strain in BaTiO₃ originating from a partial screening of ferroelectric polarization by photo-excited carriers, which decreases the tetragonality of the unit cell. These findings showcase the potential of photostrictive freestanding ferroelectric films as wireless actuators operated by light.