Bent Ferroelectric Domain Walls as Reconfigurable Metallic-Like Channels.

Stolichnov, Igor; Feigl, Ludwig; McGilly, Leo J; Sluka, Tomas; Wei, Xian-Kui; Colla, Enrico; Crassous, Arnaud; Shapovalov, Konstantin et al. · Nano Lett · 2015

basic_science · Level V

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Abstract

Use of ferroelectric domain-walls in future electronics requires that they are stable, rewritable conducting channels. Here we demonstrate nonthermally activated metallic-like conduction in nominally uncharged, bent, rewritable ferroelectric-ferroelastic domain-walls of the ubiquitous ferroelectric Pb(Zr,Ti)O3 using scanning force microscopy down to a temperature of 4 K. New walls created at 4 K by pressure exhibit similar robust and intrinsic conductivity. Atomic resolution electron energy-loss spectroscopy confirms the conductivity confinement at the wall. This work provides a new concept in "domain-wall nanoelectronics".