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Ultra Thin Ferroic Materials
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Ultra Thin Ferroic Materials

A special issue of Materials (ISSN 1996-1944).

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (30 April 2014) | Viewed by 66388

Special Issue Editor

Prof. Dr. Beatriz Noheda

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Solid State Materials for Electronics Group, Zernike Institute for Advanced Materials, University of Groningen (RUG), Nijenborgh 4, 9747AG- Groningen, The Netherlands
Interests: thin films of functional oxides; ferroelectric and piezoelectric materials; ferroelectric; magnetic; and multiferroic thin films; (Synchrotron) X-ray diffraction; nanodomains and domain walls

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Understanding and controlling electronic functionality at the nanoscale is one of the main current challenges in materials science. In particular, ferroelectric and magnetic materials are the key elements in a variety of electronics devices, from memories to sensors, of which miniaturization is actively pursued. However, due to their very nature and the long-range interactions involved, reducing the dimensions of ferroic materials below 50-100 nm not only poses important technical questions and highly interesting fundamental problems, but also generates novel and distinct functionalities. In this Special Issue, we want to bring forward some of the concepts, problems, and questions presently under discussion in the field of ultrathin ferroic films.

Prof. Dr. Beatriz Noheda
Guest Editor

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Keywords

  • ultra thin ferroelectric films
  • ultra thin multiferroic films
  • ultrathin magnetic films
  • effect of interfaces in ferroelectric and/or magnetic properties
  • novel ferroic properties at interfaces
  • nanodomains
  • novel functionality of domain walls
  • strain-induced properties in ferroic thin films

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Published Papers (5 papers)

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Research

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759 KiB  
Article
Structural Aspects LiNbO3 Nanoparticles and Their Ferromagnetic Properties
by Carlos A. Diaz-Moreno, Rurik Farias-Mancilla, Jose T. Elizalde-Galindo, Jesus González-Hernández, Abel Hurtado-Macias, Daniel Bahena, Miguel José-Yacamán and Manuel Ramos
Materials 2014, 7(11), 7217-7225; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma7117217 - 28 Oct 2014
Cited by 12 | Viewed by 9219
Abstract
We present a solid-state synthesis of ferromagnetic lithium niobate nanoparticles (LiNbO3) and their corresponding structural aspects. In order to investigate the effect of heat treatments, two batches of samples with a heat-treated (HT) and non-heat-treated (nHT) reduction at 650 °C in [...] Read more.
We present a solid-state synthesis of ferromagnetic lithium niobate nanoparticles (LiNbO3) and their corresponding structural aspects. In order to investigate the effect of heat treatments, two batches of samples with a heat-treated (HT) and non-heat-treated (nHT) reduction at 650 °C in 5% of hydrogen/argon were considered to investigate the multiferroic properties and their corresponding structural aspects; using magnetometry and scanning transmission electron microscopy (STEM). Results indicate the existence of ferromagnetic domains with a magnetic moment per unit cell of 5.24 × 10−3 μB; caused mainly due to voids and defects on the nanoparticle surface, as confirmed by STEM measurements. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Ultra Thin Ferroic Materials)
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948 KiB  
Article
Ferroelectric Switching of Vinylidene and Trifluoroethylene Copolymer Thin Films on Au Electrodes Modified with Self-Assembled Monolayers
by Naoto Tsutsumi, Tomotaka Kitano, Kenji Kinashi and Wataru Sakai
Materials 2014, 7(9), 6367-6376; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma7096367 - 8 Sep 2014
Cited by 6 | Viewed by 6822
Abstract
The ferroelectric switching characteristics of a vinylidene fluoride and trifluoroethylene copolymer were significantly changed via the chemical modification of a gold electrode with an alkanethiol self-assembled monolayer (SAM). The alkanethiol SAM-Au electrode successfully suppressed the leakage current (dark current) from the electrode to [...] Read more.
The ferroelectric switching characteristics of a vinylidene fluoride and trifluoroethylene copolymer were significantly changed via the chemical modification of a gold electrode with an alkanethiol self-assembled monolayer (SAM). The alkanethiol SAM-Au electrode successfully suppressed the leakage current (dark current) from the electrode to the bulk ferroelectric. Smaller leakage currents led to the formation of an effective electric field in the bulk ferroelectric. At switching cycles ranging from 10 to 100 kHz, significant changes in the ferroelectric properties were observed. At 100 kHz, a remanent polarization (Pr) of 68 mC·m−2 was measured, whereas a very small Pr value of 2.4 mC·m−2 was measured for the sample without a SAM. The switching speed of the SAM-Au electrode is as twice as fast as that of the unmodified electrode. A large potential barrier was formed via the insertion of a SAM between the Au electrode and the ferroelectric, effectively changing the ferroelectric switching characteristics. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Ultra Thin Ferroic Materials)
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Review

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2629 KiB  
Review
Theoretical Methods of Domain Structures in Ultrathin Ferroelectric Films: A Review
by Jianyi Liu, Weijin Chen, Biao Wang and Yue Zheng
Materials 2014, 7(9), 6502-6568; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma7096502 - 12 Sep 2014
Cited by 15 | Viewed by 17189
Abstract
This review covers methods and recent developments of the theoretical study of domain structures in ultrathin ferroelectric films. The review begins with an introduction to some basic concepts and theories (e.g., polarization and its modern theory, ferroelectric phase transition, domain formation, and finite [...] Read more.
This review covers methods and recent developments of the theoretical study of domain structures in ultrathin ferroelectric films. The review begins with an introduction to some basic concepts and theories (e.g., polarization and its modern theory, ferroelectric phase transition, domain formation, and finite size effects, etc.) that are relevant to the study of domain structures in ultrathin ferroelectric films. Basic techniques and recent progress of a variety of important approaches for domain structure simulation, including first-principles calculation, molecular dynamics, Monte Carlo simulation, effective Hamiltonian approach and phase field modeling, as well as multiscale simulation are then elaborated. For each approach, its important features and relative merits over other approaches for modeling domain structures in ultrathin ferroelectric films are discussed. Finally, we review recent theoretical studies on some important issues of domain structures in ultrathin ferroelectric films, with an emphasis on the effects of interfacial electrostatics, boundary conditions and external loads. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Ultra Thin Ferroic Materials)
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3965 KiB  
Review
Ultrathin Ferroelectric Films: Growth, Characterization, Physics and Applications
by Ying Wang, Weijin Chen, Biao Wang and Yue Zheng
Materials 2014, 7(9), 6377-6485; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma7096377 - 11 Sep 2014
Cited by 61 | Viewed by 22478
Abstract
Ultrathin ferroelectric films are of increasing interests these years, owing to the need of device miniaturization and their wide spectrum of appealing properties. Recent advanced deposition methods and characterization techniques have largely broadened the scope of experimental researches of ultrathin ferroelectric films, pushing [...] Read more.
Ultrathin ferroelectric films are of increasing interests these years, owing to the need of device miniaturization and their wide spectrum of appealing properties. Recent advanced deposition methods and characterization techniques have largely broadened the scope of experimental researches of ultrathin ferroelectric films, pushing intensive property study and promising device applications. This review aims to cover state-of-the-art experimental works of ultrathin ferroelectric films, with a comprehensive survey of growth methods, characterization techniques, important phenomena and properties, as well as device applications. The strongest emphasis is on those aspects intimately related to the unique phenomena and physics of ultrathin ferroelectric films. Prospects and challenges of this field also have been highlighted. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Ultra Thin Ferroic Materials)
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1995 KiB  
Review
Effects of Interfaces on the Structure and Novel Physical Properties in Epitaxial Multiferroic BiFeO3 Ultrathin Films
by Chuanwei Huang and Lang Chen
Materials 2014, 7(7), 5403-5426; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma7075403 - 23 Jul 2014
Cited by 9 | Viewed by 9549
Abstract
In functional oxide films, different electrical/mechanical boundaries near film surfaces induce rich phase diagrams and exotic phenomena. In this paper, we review some key points which underpin structure, phase transition and related properties in BiFeO3 ultrathin films. Compared with the bulk counterparts, [...] Read more.
In functional oxide films, different electrical/mechanical boundaries near film surfaces induce rich phase diagrams and exotic phenomena. In this paper, we review some key points which underpin structure, phase transition and related properties in BiFeO3 ultrathin films. Compared with the bulk counterparts, we survey the recent results of epitaxial BiFeO3 ultrathin films to illustrate how the atomic structure and phase are markedly influenced by the interface between the film and the substrate, and to emphasize the roles of misfit strain and depolarization field on determining the domain patterns, phase transformation and associated physical properties of BiFeO3 ultrathin films, such as polarization, piezoelectricity, and magnetism. One of the obvious consequences of the misfit strain on BiFeO3 ultrathin films is the emergence of a sequence of phase transition from tetragonal to mixed tetragonal & rhombohedral, the rhombohedral, mixed rhombohedral & orthorhombic, and finally orthorhombic phases. Other striking features of this system are the stable domain patterns and the crossover of 71° and 109° domains with different electrical boundary conditions on the film surface, which can be controlled and manipulated through the depolarization field. The external field-sensitive enhancements of properties for BiFeO3 ultrathin films, including the polarization, magnetism and morphotropic phase boundary-relevant piezoelectric response, offer us deeper insights into the investigations of the emergent properties and phenomena of epitaxial ultrathin films under various mechanical/electrical constraints. Finally, we briefly summarize the recent progress and list open questions for future study on BiFeO3 ultrathin films. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Ultra Thin Ferroic Materials)
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