Conduction of Topologically Protected Charged Ferroelectric Domain Walls

Weida Wu, Y. Horibe, N. Lee, S.-W. Cheong, and J. R. Guest
Phys. Rev. Lett. 108, 077203 – Published 14 February 2012
PDFHTMLExport Citation

Abstract

We report on the observation of nanoscale conduction at ferroelectric domain walls in hexagonal HoMnO3 protected by the topology of multiferroic vortices using in situ conductive atomic force microscopy, piezoresponse force microscopy, and Kelvin-probe force microscopy at low temperatures. In addition to previously observed Schottky-like rectification at low bias [Phys. Rev. Lett. 104, 217601 (2010)], conductance spectra reveal that negatively charged tail-to-tail walls exhibit enhanced conduction at high forward bias, while positively charged head-to-head walls exhibit suppressed conduction at high reverse bias. Our results pave the way for understanding the semiconducting properties of the domains and domain walls in small-gap ferroelectrics.

  • Figure
  • Figure
  • Figure
  • Figure
  • Received 26 October 2011

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.108.077203

© 2012 American Physical Society

Authors & Affiliations

Weida Wu1,*, Y. Horibe1, N. Lee1, S.-W. Cheong1, and J. R. Guest2

  • 1Department of Physics and Astronomy and Rutgers Center for Emergent Materials, Rutgers University, Piscataway, New Jersey 08854, USA
  • 2Center for Nanoscale Materials, Argonne National Laboratory, Argonne, Illinois 60439, USA

  • *To whom all correspondence should be addressed. wdwu@physics.rutgers.edu.

Article Text (Subscription Required)

Click to Expand

Supplemental Material (Subscription Required)

Click to Expand

References (Subscription Required)

Click to Expand
Issue

Vol. 108, Iss. 7 — 17 February 2012

Reuse & Permissions
Access Options
CHORUS

Article Available via CHORUS

Download Accepted Manuscript
Author publication services for translation and copyediting assistance advertisement

Authorization Required


×
×

Images

×

Sign up to receive regular email alerts from Physical Review Letters

Log In

Cancel
×

Search


Article Lookup

Paste a citation or DOI

Enter a citation
×