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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