Observation of multi-order polar radial vortices and their topological transition

Abstract Topological states have garnered enormous interest in both magnetic and ferroelectric materials for promising candidates of next-generation information carriers. Especially, multi-order topological structures with modulative topological charges are promising for multi-state storage. Here, b...

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Main Authors: Wan-Rong Geng, Xiangwei Guo, Yin-Lian Zhu, Desheng Ma, Yun-Long Tang, Yu-Jia Wang, Yongjun Wu, Zijian Hong, Xiu-Liang Ma
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Nature Portfolio 2025-03-01
Series:Nature Communications
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-58008-w
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author Wan-Rong Geng
Xiangwei Guo
Yin-Lian Zhu
Desheng Ma
Yun-Long Tang
Yu-Jia Wang
Yongjun Wu
Zijian Hong
Xiu-Liang Ma
author_facet Wan-Rong Geng
Xiangwei Guo
Yin-Lian Zhu
Desheng Ma
Yun-Long Tang
Yu-Jia Wang
Yongjun Wu
Zijian Hong
Xiu-Liang Ma
author_sort Wan-Rong Geng
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Topological states have garnered enormous interest in both magnetic and ferroelectric materials for promising candidates of next-generation information carriers. Especially, multi-order topological structures with modulative topological charges are promising for multi-state storage. Here, by engineering boundary conditions, we directly observe the self-assembly two-order ferroelectric radial vortices in high-density BiFeO3 nanostructures. The as-observed two-order radial vortex features a doughnut-like out-of-plane polarization distribution and four-quadrant in-plane distribution, with the topological charge of Q = 0. Systematic dimensional control of the BiFeO3 nanostructures reveals size-dependent stabilization of distinct topological states, from elementary one-order to complex three-order radial vortices, which is further rationalized by phase-field simulations. The transition between different topological states with various topological charges is also realized under an external electric field. This study opens up an avenue for generating configurable polar topological states, offering potential advancements in designing high-performance multi-state memory devices.
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institution DOAJ
issn 2041-1723
language English
publishDate 2025-03-01
publisher Nature Portfolio
record_format Article
series Nature Communications
spelling doaj-art-16998b511b9849c69b93b80d7bc798cf2025-08-20T02:41:33ZengNature PortfolioNature Communications2041-17232025-03-011611910.1038/s41467-025-58008-wObservation of multi-order polar radial vortices and their topological transitionWan-Rong Geng0Xiangwei Guo1Yin-Lian Zhu2Desheng Ma3Yun-Long Tang4Yu-Jia Wang5Yongjun Wu6Zijian Hong7Xiu-Liang Ma8Bay Area Center for Electron Microscopy, Songshan Lake Materials LaboratoryState Key Laboratory of Silicon and Advanced Semiconductor Materials, School of Materials Science and Engineering, Zhejiang UniversityBay Area Center for Electron Microscopy, Songshan Lake Materials LaboratorySchool of Applied and Engineering Physics, Cornell UniversityShenyang National Laboratory for Materials Science, Institute of Metal Research, Chinese Academy of SciencesShenyang National Laboratory for Materials Science, Institute of Metal Research, Chinese Academy of SciencesState Key Laboratory of Silicon and Advanced Semiconductor Materials, School of Materials Science and Engineering, Zhejiang UniversityState Key Laboratory of Silicon and Advanced Semiconductor Materials, School of Materials Science and Engineering, Zhejiang UniversityBay Area Center for Electron Microscopy, Songshan Lake Materials LaboratoryAbstract Topological states have garnered enormous interest in both magnetic and ferroelectric materials for promising candidates of next-generation information carriers. Especially, multi-order topological structures with modulative topological charges are promising for multi-state storage. Here, by engineering boundary conditions, we directly observe the self-assembly two-order ferroelectric radial vortices in high-density BiFeO3 nanostructures. The as-observed two-order radial vortex features a doughnut-like out-of-plane polarization distribution and four-quadrant in-plane distribution, with the topological charge of Q = 0. Systematic dimensional control of the BiFeO3 nanostructures reveals size-dependent stabilization of distinct topological states, from elementary one-order to complex three-order radial vortices, which is further rationalized by phase-field simulations. The transition between different topological states with various topological charges is also realized under an external electric field. This study opens up an avenue for generating configurable polar topological states, offering potential advancements in designing high-performance multi-state memory devices.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-58008-w
spellingShingle Wan-Rong Geng
Xiangwei Guo
Yin-Lian Zhu
Desheng Ma
Yun-Long Tang
Yu-Jia Wang
Yongjun Wu
Zijian Hong
Xiu-Liang Ma
Observation of multi-order polar radial vortices and their topological transition
Nature Communications
title Observation of multi-order polar radial vortices and their topological transition
title_full Observation of multi-order polar radial vortices and their topological transition
title_fullStr Observation of multi-order polar radial vortices and their topological transition
title_full_unstemmed Observation of multi-order polar radial vortices and their topological transition
title_short Observation of multi-order polar radial vortices and their topological transition
title_sort observation of multi order polar radial vortices and their topological transition
url https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-58008-w
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