Guo Tian(田国), Sizheng Zheng, Zhuhua Mo, Jianbiao Xian, Chao Chen, Zhen Fan, Minghui Qin, Ji-Yan Dai, Jie Wang, Jun-Ming Liu(刘俊明), and Xingsen Gao(高兴森)
Formation of Polar Topological Domains in Wrinkled Bulges in Freestanding BiFeO3 Thin Films
Advanced Functional Materials, 2416311(2025)
This work presents a voltage-free strategy for creating and manipulating topological domains in freestanding BiFeO3 films via the flexoelectric effect. By introducing bulge-like surface wrinkles into freestanding films, complexed polarization topological textures can be formed, i.e., center-type domain state with a cylinder bubble domain pattern along the vertical direction. This can be interpreted by the flexoelectric effect arising from the bulge topology, as verified by the phase-field simulation results. The observed center topological texture can also allow reversible switching between the center divergent state and the mosaic-like state driven by applying an electric field. The results provide a good example for the construction of topological domains via flexoelectric engineering, and offer opportunities for on-demand design of polar topological structures for certain nanoelectronics applications.
URL: https://doi.org/10.1002/adfm.202416311