- By:
- Checa Nualart, Marti ; Pant, Bharat; Puretzky, Alexander A; Dryzhakov, Bogdan ; Vasudevan, Rama K; Kavle, Pravin; Dasgupta, Arvind; Martin, Lane W.; Cao, Ye; Collins, Liam F; Jesse, Stephen ; Domingo Marimon, Neus ; Kelley, Kyle P
- Journal Name:
- Nature Nanotechnology
- Page Number:
- 43-50
- Volume:
- 20
- Publication Date:
- April 28, 2025
- View DOI Listing:
- https://doi.org/10.1038/s41565-024-01792-1
Abstract
Hierarchical assemblies of ferroelectric nanodomains, so-called super-domains, can exhibit exotic morphologies that lead to distinct behaviours. Controlling these super-domains reliably is critical for realizing states with desired functional properties. Here we reveal the super-switching mechanism by using a biased atomic force microscopy tip, that is, the switching of the in-plane super-domains, of a model ferroelectric Pb0.6Sr0.4TiO3. We demonstrate that the writing process is dominated by a super-domain nucleation and stabilization process. A complex scanning-probe trajectory enables on-demand formation of intricate centre-divergent, centre-convergent and flux-closure polar structures. Correlative piezoresponse force microscopy and optical spectroscopy confirm the topological nature and tunability of the emergent structures. The precise and versatile nanolithography in a ferroic material and the stability of the generated structures, also validated by phase-field modelling, suggests potential for reliable multi-state nanodevice architectures and, thereby, an alternative route for the creation of tunable topological structures for applications in neuromorphic circuits.
