Abstract
Intrinsic surface stress forms due to the relatively high surface energy of nanoscale ferroelectrics. Such surface stress induces mechanical balancing stress below the curved free surfaces, and consequently affects the existence of singe-vertex structure of polarization within free-standing ferroelectric nanostructures. A thermodynamics-based continuum phase field approach is employed to investigate such surface effect in ferroelectric nanodisks. It has been observed that, for a given material, the minimum geometric limit for existence of single-vertex structure will generally be elevated upon the compressive surface-induced stress. Such increase is nonlinear, and highly depending on the energy exchange parameter in the model.
Original language | English |
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Article number | 162905 |
Journal | Applied Physics Letters |
Volume | 96 |
Issue number | 16 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - 19 Apr 2010 |