Control of ferroelectric polarization in BiFeO3 bilayer films through interface engineering

Abstract Predetermining the as-grown polarization of ferroelectric thin films is essential to integrate their reliable properties into electronic devices. However, studies have so far focused mainly on the control of the polarization state of a single ferroelectric layer. Here we report a strategy f...

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Main Authors: Xiaokang Yao, Can Wang, Lei Liao, Xinyan Wang, Ning Liang, Tao Yan, Rui Wang, Meng He, Er-Jia Guo, Chen Ge, Lifen Wang, Xuedong Bai, Guozhen Yang, Kuijuan Jin
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Nature Portfolio 2025-04-01
Series:npj Quantum Materials
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41535-025-00763-6
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author Xiaokang Yao
Can Wang
Lei Liao
Xinyan Wang
Ning Liang
Tao Yan
Rui Wang
Meng He
Er-Jia Guo
Chen Ge
Lifen Wang
Xuedong Bai
Guozhen Yang
Kuijuan Jin
author_facet Xiaokang Yao
Can Wang
Lei Liao
Xinyan Wang
Ning Liang
Tao Yan
Rui Wang
Meng He
Er-Jia Guo
Chen Ge
Lifen Wang
Xuedong Bai
Guozhen Yang
Kuijuan Jin
author_sort Xiaokang Yao
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Predetermining the as-grown polarization of ferroelectric thin films is essential to integrate their reliable properties into electronic devices. However, studies have so far focused mainly on the control of the polarization state of a single ferroelectric layer. Here we report a strategy for the artificial modulation of pristine polarization in BiFeO3 bilayer films. We have fabricated multilayers of BiFeO3/SrTiO3/BiFeO3 on single-crystalline SrTiO3 (001) substrates. It is found that the out-of-plane polarization components of the BiFeO3 bilayer can be controlled by modifying the surface terminations of SrTiO3 interlayer and SrTiO3 substrate. Using aberration-corrected scanning transmission electron microscopy, we directly visualize the head-to-head and tail-to-tail polarization configurations formed by the BiFeO3 bilayers. Polar discontinuity at the ferroelectric/non-ferroelectric interface is the reason for tuning the orientation of electrical polarization. Our work provides an effective route to design fascinating ferroelectric multilayers with well-defined polarization direction.
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institution OA Journals
issn 2397-4648
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publisher Nature Portfolio
record_format Article
series npj Quantum Materials
spelling doaj-art-99630cfc66de4684a9bb924d3eca1f842025-08-20T02:19:57ZengNature Portfolionpj Quantum Materials2397-46482025-04-011011810.1038/s41535-025-00763-6Control of ferroelectric polarization in BiFeO3 bilayer films through interface engineeringXiaokang Yao0Can Wang1Lei Liao2Xinyan Wang3Ning Liang4Tao Yan5Rui Wang6Meng He7Er-Jia Guo8Chen Ge9Lifen Wang10Xuedong Bai11Guozhen Yang12Kuijuan Jin13Beijing National Laboratory for Condensed Matter Physics, Institute of Physics, Chinese Academy of SciencesBeijing National Laboratory for Condensed Matter Physics, Institute of Physics, Chinese Academy of SciencesBeijing National Laboratory for Condensed Matter Physics, Institute of Physics, Chinese Academy of SciencesBeijing National Laboratory for Condensed Matter Physics, Institute of Physics, Chinese Academy of SciencesBeijing National Laboratory for Condensed Matter Physics, Institute of Physics, Chinese Academy of SciencesBeijing National Laboratory for Condensed Matter Physics, Institute of Physics, Chinese Academy of SciencesBeijing National Laboratory for Condensed Matter Physics, Institute of Physics, Chinese Academy of SciencesBeijing National Laboratory for Condensed Matter Physics, Institute of Physics, Chinese Academy of SciencesBeijing National Laboratory for Condensed Matter Physics, Institute of Physics, Chinese Academy of SciencesBeijing National Laboratory for Condensed Matter Physics, Institute of Physics, Chinese Academy of SciencesBeijing National Laboratory for Condensed Matter Physics, Institute of Physics, Chinese Academy of SciencesBeijing National Laboratory for Condensed Matter Physics, Institute of Physics, Chinese Academy of SciencesBeijing National Laboratory for Condensed Matter Physics, Institute of Physics, Chinese Academy of SciencesBeijing National Laboratory for Condensed Matter Physics, Institute of Physics, Chinese Academy of SciencesAbstract Predetermining the as-grown polarization of ferroelectric thin films is essential to integrate their reliable properties into electronic devices. However, studies have so far focused mainly on the control of the polarization state of a single ferroelectric layer. Here we report a strategy for the artificial modulation of pristine polarization in BiFeO3 bilayer films. We have fabricated multilayers of BiFeO3/SrTiO3/BiFeO3 on single-crystalline SrTiO3 (001) substrates. It is found that the out-of-plane polarization components of the BiFeO3 bilayer can be controlled by modifying the surface terminations of SrTiO3 interlayer and SrTiO3 substrate. Using aberration-corrected scanning transmission electron microscopy, we directly visualize the head-to-head and tail-to-tail polarization configurations formed by the BiFeO3 bilayers. Polar discontinuity at the ferroelectric/non-ferroelectric interface is the reason for tuning the orientation of electrical polarization. Our work provides an effective route to design fascinating ferroelectric multilayers with well-defined polarization direction.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41535-025-00763-6
spellingShingle Xiaokang Yao
Can Wang
Lei Liao
Xinyan Wang
Ning Liang
Tao Yan
Rui Wang
Meng He
Er-Jia Guo
Chen Ge
Lifen Wang
Xuedong Bai
Guozhen Yang
Kuijuan Jin
Control of ferroelectric polarization in BiFeO3 bilayer films through interface engineering
npj Quantum Materials
title Control of ferroelectric polarization in BiFeO3 bilayer films through interface engineering
title_full Control of ferroelectric polarization in BiFeO3 bilayer films through interface engineering
title_fullStr Control of ferroelectric polarization in BiFeO3 bilayer films through interface engineering
title_full_unstemmed Control of ferroelectric polarization in BiFeO3 bilayer films through interface engineering
title_short Control of ferroelectric polarization in BiFeO3 bilayer films through interface engineering
title_sort control of ferroelectric polarization in bifeo3 bilayer films through interface engineering
url https://doi.org/10.1038/s41535-025-00763-6
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