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Hidden Chiral Ferroelectricity in AgNbO_{3} Perovskite
Ying Song1,2, Lingzhi Cao1,2, Jinming Zhai1,2
1University of Science and Technology Beijing, Key Laboratory of Advanced Materials and Devices for Post-Moore Chips, Ministry of Education, Beijing 100083, China.
Physical Review Letters
|July 31, 2026
Summary
Silver niobium oxide (AgNbO3) exhibits a new chiral ferroelectric phase. This discovery allows electric fields to control chirality and optical properties, paving the way for advanced optoelectronics.
Area of Science:
- Solid State Physics
- Materials Science
- Crystallography
Background:
- Lead-free perovskites like AgNbO3 are promising for energy storage and optoelectronics.
- The low-temperature crystal structure of AgNbO3 has been a subject of debate.
- Understanding structural properties is key to unlocking material applications.
Purpose of the Study:
- To systematically investigate the low-energy structural landscape of AgNbO3.
- To identify and characterize novel low-temperature phases.
- To explore the relationship between structure, ferroelectricity, and chirality.
Main Methods:
- Utilized first-principles structural search.
- Employed symmetry-adapted phonon-mode theory.
- Performed theoretical calculations to analyze structural and electronic properties.
Main Results:
- Discovered a new chiral ferroelectric phase (space group R3) in AgNbO3.
- This phase shows large spontaneous polarization and low switching barriers.
- Demonstrated intrinsic locking of structural chirality to ferroelectric polarization.
- Showcased electric-field control over chiral optical responses (circular dichroism, photogalvanic effect, optical activity, nonlinear optics).
Conclusions:
- Clarified the complex low-temperature structural behavior of AgNbO3.
- Established AgNbO3 as a rare inorganic platform for electric-field-tunable chirality.
- Opened new avenues for developing ultrafast, electrically controlled chiral optoelectronics.
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