Related Experiment Video
Updated: Apr 9, 2026

Scanning SQUID Study of Vortex Manipulation by Local Contact
Published on: February 1, 2017
Phase-Boundary-Mediated Nonvolatile Switching of Polar Vortices in Ferroelectric Superlattices
Di Fan1,2, Jianhua Ren3,4, Jianwei Liang3,4
1School of Physics and Electronics, Hunan University of Science and Technology, Xiangtan, Hunan 411201, China.
Abstract:
Topological polar vortices in ferroelectric superlattices offer intriguing opportunities for nanoscale functional devices; however, achieving nonvolatile electric-field control remains a formidable challenge due to their inherent elastic recovery. Here, we demonstrate reversible nonvolatile switching of polar vortices in PbTiO3/SrTiO3 (PTO/STO) superlattices, enabled by a thickness-engineered mixed-phase state. Using in situ transmission electron microscopy, we reveal that in PTO7/STO7 superlattices, polar vortices structurally coexist with ferroelectric a-domains, forming a laterally modulated mixed-phase configuration. Under a local electric field, vortex switching proceeds via deterministic lateral propagation of vortex-a-domain phase boundaries, resulting in stable domain configurations upon field removal. In stark contrast, thicker PTO10/STO10 superlattices, which host a pure vortex phase, exhibit a volatile switching behavior that elastically relaxes to the ground state. Phase-field simulations further confirm that phase-boundary-mediated pathways provide the necessary flattened energy landscape for topological reconfiguration. These results establish mixed-phase engineering as an effective strategy for nonvolatile control of polar topological textures.
Related Concept Videos
Electrostatic Boundary Conditions in Dielectrics
Consider a case where both the mediums across a boundary are two different dielectric materials. Recall that the electric field and electric displacement are proportional and related through the material's permittivity....
Dielectric Polarization in a Capacitor
Electrostatic Boundary Conditions
The surface integral of an electric field is given by Gauss's law in integral form and is related to...
Phase Transitions: Melting and Freezing
Magnetostatic Boundary Conditions
Ferromagnetism

