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Hyperferroelectrics: Proper Ferroelectrics with Persistent Polarization

Kevin F. Garrity, Karin M. Rabe, and David Vanderbilt
Phys. Rev. Lett. 112, 127601 – Published 26 March 2014
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Abstract

All known proper ferroelectrics are unable to polarize normal to a surface or interface if the resulting depolarization field is unscreened, but there is no fundamental principle that enforces this behavior. In this work, we introduce hyperferroelectrics, a new class of proper ferroelectrics which polarize even when the depolarization field is unscreened, this condition being equivalent to instability of a longitudinal optic mode in addition to the transverse-optic-mode instability characteristic of proper ferroelectrics. We use first-principles calculations to show that several recently discovered hexagonal ferroelectric semiconductors have this property, and we examine its consequences both in the bulk and in a superlattice geometry.

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  • Received 25 November 2013

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.112.127601

© 2014 American Physical Society

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Polarization that Holds Steady

Published 26 March 2014

A predicted class of materials called hyperferroelectrics could prove more stable against the depolarizing internal electric fields known to impede ferroelectricity in thin films.

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Authors & Affiliations

Kevin F. Garrity, Karin M. Rabe, and David Vanderbilt

  • Department of Physics and Astronomy, Rutgers University, Piscataway, New Jersey 08854, USA

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Issue

Vol. 112, Iss. 12 — 28 March 2014

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