Optical Control of In-Plane Domain Configuration and Domain Wall Motion in Ferroelectric and Ferroelastic Materials

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Condensed Matter Physics
• Nanotechnology

Background:

• Ferroelectric domain walls are sensitive to external stimuli, making them key components in nanoelectronic devices.
• Optically driven domain reconfiguration, particularly with in-plane polarization, is a desirable characteristic for advanced applications.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the existence of in-plane polarized subdomains in ferroelectric materials.
• To demonstrate reversible optical control over domain wall movement.
• To explore the role of ferroelectric polarization and flexoelectricity in optical domain control.

Main Methods:

• Utilized optical stimuli to induce and observe domain reconfiguration.
• Examined domain wall dynamics in single-crystal ferroelectric Barium Titanate (BaTiO₃).
• Investigated domain configuration changes in nonpolar ferroelastic materials.

Main Results:

• Observed in-plane polarized subdomains that mimic a single domain state in BaTiO₃.
• Achieved reversible optical control of domain wall movement in ferroelectric BaTiO₃.
• Demonstrated similar optical control in nonpolar ferroelastic materials, indicating ferroelectric polarization is not essential.

Conclusions:

• Flexoelectricity is identified as a crucial factor for optical control of domain configuration.
• Ferroelastic materials are proposed as viable candidates for nanoelectronic device applications due to optical domain control.
• The findings expand the possibilities for designing novel nanoelectronic devices utilizing optical manipulation of domain structures.