Abstract
Ferroelectric domains in superlattices are studied using synchrotron x-ray diffraction. Macroscopic measurements reveal a change in the preferential domain wall orientation from to crystallographic planes with increasing temperature. The temperature range of this reorientation depends on the ferroelectric layer thickness and domain period. Using a nanofocused beam, local changes in the domain wall orientation within the buried ferroelectric layers are imaged, both in structurally uniform regions of the sample and near defect sites and argon ion-etched patterns. Domain walls are found to exhibit a preferential alignment with the straight edges of the etched patterns as well as with structural features associated with defect sites. The distribution of out-of-plane lattice parameters is mapped around one such feature, showing that it is accompanied by inhomogeneous strain and large strain gradients.
- Received 6 July 2017
- Revised 5 November 2017
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.120.037602
Published by the American Physical Society under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International license. Further distribution of this work must maintain attribution to the author(s) and the published article’s title, journal citation, and DOI.
Published by the American Physical Society