Bending the ferroelectric domain wall by a bubble

J Phys Condens Matter. 2011 Aug 31;23(34):345901. doi: 10.1088/0953-8984/23/34/345901.

Abstract

The shape of the ferroelectric domain wall mainly depends on the lattice structure and the pinning effect of random defects, but can we control it intentionally? Here we present a method to bend the domain wall by a bubble. A submillimeter bubble was put underneath a lithium niobate wafer inside a deionized water electrode to resist the propagation of the domain wall, and make the straight wall bend at an angle of 52°. The perpendicular surface screening field was considered to directly relate to the bending angle and the motion of the surface charged droplets in the bubble, and the detachment of droplets determined the bending of the domain wall. Further experiments succeeded in varying the bending angle from 52° to 0° by changing the ion concentration of the liquid electrode.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't