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Microscopic origin of the giant ferroelectric polarization in tetragonal-like BiFeO3

Publication Type

Journal Article

Authors

Zhang, J.X., Q. He, M. Trassin, W. Luo, D. Yi, M.D. Rossell, P. Yu, L. You, C.H. Wang, C.Y. Kuo, J.T. Heron, Z. Hu, R.J. Zeches, H.J. Lin, A. Tanaka, C.T. Chen, L.H. Tjeng, Y.-H. Chu, Ramamoorthy Ramesh

DOI

10.1103/PhysRevLett.107.147602

Abstract

We report direct experimental evidence for a room-temperature, ∼130μC/cm2 ferroelectric polarization from the tetragonal-like BiFeO 3 phase. The physical origin of this remarkable enhancement of ferroelectric polarization has been investigated by a combination of x-ray absorption spectroscopy, scanning transmission electron microscopy, and first principles calculations. A large strain-induced Fe-ion displacement relative to the oxygen octahedra, combined with the contribution of Bi 6s lone pair electrons, is the mechanism driving the large ferroelectric polarization in this tetragonal-like phase. © 2011 American Physical Society.

Journal

Physical Review Letters

Volume

107

Year of Publication

2011

ISSN

00319007

Notes

cited By 186

Research Areas

Ramesh Lab