Imaging Ferroelastic Domain Walls in Hybrid Improper Ferroelectric Sr₃Sn₂O₇.

Abstract

We combined synchrotron-based near field infrared spectroscopy and atomic force microscopy to image the properties of ferroelastic domain walls in Sr₃Sn₂O₇. Although frequency shifts at the walls are near the limit of our sensitivity, we can confirm semiconducting rather than metallic character and widths between 20 and 60 nm. The latter is significantly narrower than in other hybrid improper ferroelectrics like Ca₃Ti₂O₇. We attribute this trend to the softer lattice in Sr₃Sn₂O₇, which may enable the octahedral tilt and rotation order parameters to evolve more quickly across the wall without significantly increased strain. These findings are crucial for the understanding of phononic properties at interfaces and the development of domain wall-based devices.