Abstract
Using Landau-Ginzburg-Devonshire theory and phase-field modeling, we explore the complex interplay between a structural order parameter (oxygen octahedron rotation) and polarization in EuxSr1-xTiO3 thin films. Under a biaxially tensile strain, a low-symmetry monoclinic phase with in-plane ferroelectric polarization is found to be stabilized by antiferrodistortive oxygen octahedra tilts. The monoclinic phase is stable over a wide temperature range. It is characterized by a large number of energetically equivalent polar and structural twin domains. This work demonstrates the development of a spontaneous polarization and piezo- and pyroelectricity in a ferroelastic twin boundary arising from flexoelectric coupling and rotostriction.
Recommended Citation
A. N. Morozovska et al., "Low-Symmetry Monoclinic Ferroelectric Phase Stabilized by Oxygen Octahedra Rotations in Strained EuₓSr₁₋ₓTiO₃ Thin Films," Physical Review B - Condensed Matter and Materials Physics, vol. 87, no. 13, American Physical Society (APS), Apr 2013.
The definitive version is available at https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevB.87.134102
Department(s)
Materials Science and Engineering
Keywords and Phrases
Europium; Phase transitions; Antiferromagnetism
International Standard Serial Number (ISSN)
1098-0121; 1550-235X
Document Type
Article - Journal
Document Version
Final Version
File Type
text
Language(s)
English
Rights
© 2013 American Physical Society (APS), All rights reserved.
Publication Date
01 Apr 2013
Comments
Y.G, V.G., and L.Q.C. acknowledge the financial support by the U.S. National Science Foundation under NSF-DMR-0908718, NSF-DMR-0820404, and NSFDMR-1210588.