Nanoscale bubble domains with polar topologies in bulk ferroelectrics

AbstractMultitudinous topological configurations spawn oases of many physical properties and phenomena in condensed-matter physics. Nano-sized ferroelectric bubble domains with various polar topologies (e.g., vortices, skyrmions) achieved in ferroelectric films present great potential for valuable physical properties. However, experimentally manipulating bubble domains has remained elusive especially in the bulk form. Here, in any bulk material, we achieve self-confined bubble domains with multiple polar topologies in bulk Bi0.5Na0.5TiO3 ferroelectrics, especially skyrmions, as validated by direct Z-contrast imaging. This phenomenon is driven by the interplay of bulk, elastic and electrostatic energies of coexisting modulated phases with strong and weak spontaneous polarizations. We demonstrate reversable and tip-voltage magnitude/time-dependent donut-like domain morphology evolution towards continuously and reversibly modulated high-density nonvolatile ferroelectric memories.

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Nanoscale bubble domains with polar topologies in bulk ferroelectrics

10.21203/rs.3.rs-115081/v1 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Stephen Pennycook ◽

Jie Yin ◽

Hongxiang Zong ◽

Hong Tao ◽

Xuefei Tao ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Physical Properties ◽

Bulk Material ◽

Condensed Matter ◽

Time Dependent ◽

Morphology Evolution ◽

Contrast Imaging ◽

Modulated Phases ◽

Ferroelectric Memories ◽

Z Contrast ◽

First Time

Abstract Multitudinous topological configurations spawn new oases of novel phenomena and physical properties in condensed-matter physics1. Nano-sized ferroelectric bubble domains with various polar topologies (e.g., vortices, skyrmions) achieved in ferroelectric films present great potential for valuable physical properties2–5. However, experimentally manipulating bubble domains has remained elusive especially in the bulk form. Here, for the first time in any bulk material, we achieve self-confined bubble domains with multiple polar topologies in bulk Bi0.5Na0.5TiO3 ferroelectrics, especially skyrmions, as validated by direct Z-contrast imaging. This phenomenon is driven by the interplay of bulk, elastic and electrostatic energies of coexisting modulated phases with strong and weak spontaneous polarizations. We demonstrate reversable and tip-voltage magnitude/time-dependent donut-like domain morphology evolution towards continuously and reversibly modulated high-density nonvolatile ferroelectric memories.

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Atomic Scale Analysis of a YSZ Bicrystal Grain Boundary

Microscopy and Microanalysis ◽

10.1017/s1431927600028075 ◽

2001 ◽

Vol 7 (S2) ◽

pp. 400-401

Author(s):

Y. Lei ◽

Y. Ito ◽

N. D. Browning

Keyword(s):

Grain Boundary ◽

Grain Boundaries ◽

Bulk Material ◽

Atomic Scale ◽

Structure Property ◽

Contrast Imaging ◽

Structure Property Relationships ◽

Commercial Applications ◽

Z Contrast ◽

Electron Energy Loss

Yttria-stabilized zirconia (YSZ) has been the subject of many experimental and theoretical studies, due to the commercial applications of zirconia-based ceramics in solid state oxide fuel cells. Since the grain boundaries usually dominate the overall macroscopic performance of the bulk material, it is essential to develop a fundamental understanding of their structure-property relationships. Previous research has been performed on the atomic structure of grain boundaries in YSZ, but no precise atomic scale compositional and chemistry characterization has been carried out. Here we report a detailed analytical study of an [001] symmetric 24° bicrystal tilt grain boundary in YSZ prepared with ∼10 mol % Y2O3 by Shinkosha Co., Ltd by the combination of Z-contrast imaging and electron energy loss spectroscopy (EELS).The experimental analysis of the YSZ sample was carried out on a 200kV Schottky field emission JEOL 201 OF STEM/TEM4.

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Atomic structure determination of NIO-ZRO2(CaO) and NI-ZRO2(CaO) interfaces using Z-contrast imaging and EELS

Proceedings, annual meeting, Electron Microscopy Society of America ◽

10.1017/s0424820100162995 ◽

1996 ◽

Vol 54 ◽

pp. 106-107

Author(s):

E.C. Dickey ◽

V.P. Dravid ◽

P. Nellist ◽

D.J. Wallis ◽

N. D. Browning ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Atomic Structure ◽

Bulk Material ◽

Interface Structure ◽

Structure Property ◽

Contrast Imaging ◽

Spatially Resolved ◽

Structure Property Relationships ◽

Powerful Approach ◽

Resolution Imaging ◽

Z Contrast

Combining atomic-resolution imaging with spatially resolved electron energy loss spectroscopy (EELS) is a powerful approach to probing the geometric, chemical and electronic aspects of internal interfaces. By elucidating these interrelated constituents of interface structure, one can begin to understand the influence of the interface atomic structure on relevant bulk material properties, deducing atomic structure/property relationships. The combined Z-contrast and EELS approach was applied to two types of heterophase interfaces: oxide-oxide (NiO-ZrO2) and metal-oxide (Ni-ZrO2). The interface structure will be discussed in light of these experiments and compared to previous HREM results.

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Characterization of Stressed and Crosslinked Polymers by 13C-CP/MAS and NMR Imaging

MRS Proceedings ◽

10.1557/proc-217-33 ◽

1990 ◽

Vol 217 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

Winfried Kuhn ◽

Isolde Theis ◽

Elmar Koeller

Keyword(s):

Chemical Composition ◽

Physical Properties ◽

Chemical Reactions ◽

Bulk Material ◽

Mechanical Strain ◽

Time Dependent ◽

Nmr Imaging ◽

Physical Behavior ◽

Aging Conditions

ABSTRACTAging of polymers and elastomers is a time dependent alteration of the chemical composition and physical properties depending on the aging conditions. Chemical reactions and hence changes in the chemical composition result in many cases from influence by oxygen or solvents and treatment of the bulk material at high temperatures. Aging of the materials by mechanical strain as well as in an oxidative manner can alter the ratio of amorphous to crystalline portions in the polymer, break chemical bondings and hence can alter the physical behavior of the materials.

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Complementary Z-Contrast Imaging and Digital Image Processing

Proceedings, annual meeting, Electron Microscopy Society of America ◽

10.1017/s0424820100118394 ◽

1985 ◽

Vol 43 ◽

pp. 304-305

Author(s):

K. N. Colonna ◽

G. Oliphant

Keyword(s):

Image Processing ◽

Heavy Metal ◽

Digital Image Processing ◽

Digital Image ◽

Biological Tissue ◽

Biological Imaging ◽

Tissue Preparation ◽

Contrast Imaging ◽

Imaging Tool ◽

Z Contrast

Harmonious use of Z-contrast imaging and digital image processing as an analytical imaging tool was developed and demonstrated in studying the elemental constitution of human and maturing rabbit spermatozoa. Due to its analog origin (Fig. 1), the Z-contrast image offers information unique to the science of biological imaging. Despite the information and distinct advantages it offers, the potential of Z-contrast imaging is extremely limited without the application of techniques of digital image processing. For the first time in biological imaging, this study demonstrates the tremendous potential involved in the complementary use of Z-contrast imaging and digital image processing.Imaging in the Z-contrast mode is powerful for three distinct reasons, the first of which involves tissue preparation. It affords biologists the opportunity to visualize biological tissue without the use of heavy metal fixatives and stains. For years biologists have used heavy metal components to compensate for the limited electron scattering properties of biological tissue.

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Atomic resolution Z-contrast imaging of bulk crystal surfaces in Scanning Reflection Electron Microscopy

Proceedings, annual meeting, Electron Microscopy Society of America ◽

10.1017/s042482010017520x ◽

1990 ◽

Vol 48 (4) ◽

pp. 414-415

Author(s):

Z. L. Wang ◽

J. Bentley

Keyword(s):

Electron Microscopy ◽

Elastic Scattering ◽

Dark Field ◽

Contrast Imaging ◽

Crystal Lattices ◽

Small Probe ◽

Scanning Transmission ◽

Annular Dark Field ◽

Image Position ◽

Z Contrast

The success of obtaining atomic-number-sensitive (Z-contrast) images in scanning transmission electron microscopy (STEM) has shown the feasibility of imaging composition changes at the atomic level. This type of image is formed by collecting the electrons scattered through large angles when a small probe scans across the specimen. The image contrast is determined by two scattering processes. One is the high angle elastic scattering from the nuclear sites,where ϕNe is the electron probe function centered at bp = (Xp, yp) after penetrating through the crystal; F denotes a Fourier transform operation; D is the detection function of the annular-dark-field (ADF) detector in reciprocal space u. The other process is thermal diffuse scattering (TDS), which is more important than the elastic contribution for specimens thicker than about 10 nm, and thus dominates the Z-contrast image. The TDS is an average “elastic” scattering of the electrons from crystal lattices of different thermal vibrational configurations,

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High-resolution z-contrast imaging of semiconductor interfaces

Proceedings, annual meeting, Electron Microscopy Society of America ◽

10.1017/s0424820100154317 ◽

1989 ◽

Vol 47 ◽

pp. 468-469

Author(s):

S. J. Pennycook

Keyword(s):

High Resolution ◽

Phase Contrast ◽

Contrast Imaging ◽

Compositional Modulation ◽

Semiconductor Interfaces ◽

Complex Figure ◽

Thin Region ◽

Stem Image ◽

Annular Detector ◽

Z Contrast

Using a high-angle annular detector on a high-resolution STEM it is possible to form incoherent images of a crystal lattice characterized by strong atomic number or Z contrast. Figure 1 shows an epitaxial Ge film on Si(100) grown by oxidation of Ge-implanted Si. The image was obtained using a VG Microscopes' HB501 STEM equipped with an ultrahigh resolution polepiece (Cs ∽1.2 mm, demonstrated probe FWHM intensity ∽0.22 nm). In both crystals the lattice is resolved but that of Ge shows much brighter allowing the interface to be located exactly and interface steps to be resolved (arrowed). The interface was indistinguishable in the phase-contrast STEM image from the same region, and even at higher resolution the location of the interface is complex. Figure 2 shows a thin region of an MBE-grown ultrathin super-lattice (Si8Ge2)100. The expected compositional modulation would show as one bright row of dots from the 2 Ge monolayers separated by 4 rows of lighter Si columns. The image shows clearly that strain-induced interdiffusion has occurred on the monolayer scale.

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Quantitative structure determination of interfaces through Z-contrast imaging and electron energy loss spectroscopy

Proceedings, annual meeting, Electron Microscopy Society of America ◽

10.1017/s0424820100162983 ◽

1996 ◽

Vol 54 ◽

pp. 104-105

Author(s):

S. J. Pennycook ◽

P. D. Nellist ◽

N. D. Browning ◽

P. A. Langjahr ◽

M. Rühle

Keyword(s):

Grain Boundaries ◽

Cuprate Superconductors ◽

Structure Refinement ◽

3D Structure ◽

Real Space ◽

Contrast Imaging ◽

Coordination Polyhedra ◽

Burgers Vector ◽

Z Contrast ◽

Contrast Image

The simultaneous use of Z-contrast imaging with parallel detection EELS in the STEM provides a powerful means for determining the atomic structure of grain boundaries. The incoherent Z-contrast image of the high atomic number columns can be directly inverted to their real space arrangement, without the use of preconceived structure models. Positions and intensities may be accurately quantified through a maximum entropy analysis. Light elements that are not visible in the Z-contrast image can be studied through EELS; their coordination polyhedra determined from the spectral fine structure. It even appears feasible to contemplate 3D structure refinement through multiple scattering calculations.The power of this approach is illustrated by the recent study of a series of SrTiC>3 bicrystals, which has provided significant insight into some of the basic issues of grain boundaries in ceramics. Figure 1 shows the structural units deduced from a set of 24°, 36° and 65° symmetric boundaries, and 24° and 45° asymmetric boundaries. It can be seen that apart from unit cells and fragments from the perfect crystal, only three units are needed to construct any arbitrary tilt boundary. For symmetric boundaries, only two units are required, each having the same Burgers, vector of a<100>. Both units are pentagons, on either the Sr or Ti sublattice, and both contain two columns of the other sublattice, imaging in positions too close for the atoms in each column to be coplanar. Each column was therefore assumed to be half full, with the pair forming a single zig-zag column. For asymmetric boundaries, crystal geometry requires two types of dislocations; the additional unit was found to have a Burgers’ vector of a<110>. Such a unit is a larger source of strain, and is especially important to the transport characteristics of cuprate superconductors. These zig-zag columns avoid the problem of like-ion repulsion; they have also been seen in TiO2 and YBa2Cu3O7-x and may be a general feature of ionic materials.

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