Domain Dynamics Response to Polarization Switching in Relaxor Ferroelectrics.
basic_science · Level V
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- Record sourced from PubMed, PMID 39385657.
- Also identified by DOI 10.1002/adma.202411467.
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Abstract
Nanoscale polar regions, or nanodomains (NDs), are crucial for understanding the domain structure and high susceptibility of relaxors. However, unveiling the evolution and function of NDs during polarization switching at the microscopic level is of great challenge. The experimental in situ characterization of NDs under electric-field perturbations, and computational accurate prediction of the dipole switching within a sufficiently large supercell, are notoriously tricky and tedious. These difficulties hinder a full understanding of the link between micro domain dynamics and macro polarization switching. Herein, the real-time evolution of NDs at the nanoscale is observed and visualized during polarization switching in an exemplary relaxor system of Bi<sub>5-</sub> <sub>x</sub>La<sub>x</sub>Mg<sub>0.5</sub>Ti<sub>3.5</sub>O<sub>15</sub>. Two fundamentally different domain switching pathways and dynamic characteristics are revealed: one steep, bipolar-like switching between two degenerate polarization states; and another flat, multi-step switching process with a thermodynamically stable non-polar mesophase mediating the degenerate polarization states. The two are determined by the distinct Landau energy landscapes that are strongly dependent on the intrinsic domain configurations and interdomain interactions. This work bridges the gap between micro domain dynamics and macro polarization switching, providing a guiding principle for the strategic design and optimization of relaxors.