Ferroelectric Domain Walls for Environmental Sensors

Domain walls in ferroelectric oxides provide fertile ground for the development of next-generation nanotechnology. Examples include domain-wall-based memory, memristors, and diodes, where the unusual electronic properties and the quasi-two-dimensional nature of the walls are leveraged to emulate the behavior of electronic components at ultrasmall length scales. Here, we demonstrate atmosphere-related reversible changes in the electronic conduction at neutral ferroelectric domain walls in Er(Mn,Ti)O₃. By exposing the system to reducing and oxidizing conditions, we drive the domain walls from insulating to conducting and vice versa, translating the environmental changes into current signals. Density functional theory calculations show that the effect is predominately caused by charge carrier density modulations, which arise as oxygen interstitials accumulate at the domain walls. The work introduces an innovative concept for domain-wall-based environmental sensors, giving an additional dimension to the field of domain wall nanoelectronics and sensor technology in general.