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Formation of nanoscale polarized clusters as precursors of electronic ferroelectricity probed by conductance noise spectroscopy

Jens Müller, Satoshi Iguchi, Hiromi Taniguchi, and Takahiko Sasaki
Phys. Rev. B 102, 100103(R) – Published 29 September 2020
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Abstract

We investigate the low-frequency charge-carrier dynamics of a molecular dimer-Mott insulator β(BEDTTTF)2ICl2, where the freezing of charge fluctuations on the dimers gives rise to electronic ferroelectricity. We show that conductance fluctuation (noise) spectroscopy allows one to probe changes in the dielectric properties at elevated temperatures, where samples are even still in the conductive regime. Our results explain the formation of electric polarization states leading to glassy and relaxor-type ferroelectric behavior that is frequently observed in these systems. The onset of distinct two-level fluctuations and changes of the underlying 1/f-type noise indicate the formation of nanoscale polar regions, the dynamics of which depends on the applied electric fields. Conductance noise spectroscopy therefore is a suitable tool for investigating the onset of electric-polarization dynamics in molecular and other, inorganic charge-driven ferroelectrics.

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  • Received 19 March 2020
  • Accepted 11 September 2020

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevB.102.100103

Published by the American Physical Society under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International license. Further distribution of this work must maintain attribution to the author(s) and the published article's title, journal citation, and DOI.

©2020 American Physical Society

Physics Subject Headings (PhySH)

Condensed Matter, Materials & Applied Physics

Authors & Affiliations

Jens Müller1,2,*, Satoshi Iguchi1, Hiromi Taniguchi3, and Takahiko Sasaki1

  • 1Institute for Materials Research, Tohoku University, Sendai 980-8577, Japan
  • 2Institute of Physics, Goethe University Frankfurt, 60438 Frankfurt (M), Germany
  • 3Graduate School of Science and Engineering, Saitama University, Saitama 338-8570, Japan

  • *j.mueller@physik.uni-frankfurt.de

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Vol. 102, Iss. 10 — 1 September 2020

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