Surface polarization profile of ferroelectric thin films probed by X-ray standing waves and photoelectron spectroscopy
Abstract Understanding the mechanisms underlying a stable polarization at the surface of ferroelectric thin films is of particular importance both from a fundamental point of view and to achieve control of the surface polarization itself. In this study, we demonstrate that the X-ray standing wave technique allows the surface polarization profile of a ferroelectric thin film, as opposed to the average film polarity, to be probed directly. The X-ray standing wave technique provides the average Ti and Ba atomic positions, along the out-of-plane direction, near the surface of three differently strained $$\mathrm {BaTiO_3}$$ thin films. This technique gives direct access to the local ferroelectric polarization at and below the surface. By employing X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, a detailed overview of the oxygen-containing species adsorbed on the surface is obtained. The different amplitude and orientation of the local ferroelectric polarizations are associated with surface charges attributed to different type, amount and spatial distribution of the oxygen-containing adsorbates.
Authors
- Kai Roßnagel (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5107-0090)
- Tien‐Lin Lee
- David Pesquera (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0681-3371)
- Andreas Scherz (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8187-7178)
- Gustau Catalán (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0214-4828)
- Irena Spasojević (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6426-7009)
- Giuseppe Mercurio (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4221-6670)
- J. Zegenhagen (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0752-5320)
- Le Phuong Hoang (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3083-815X)
- Ivan A. Vartanyants
Institutions
- Institució Catalana de Recerca i Estudis Avançats (ES)
- Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (ES)
- Deutsches Elektronen-Synchrotron DESY (DE)
- Diamond Light Source (GB)
- Hochschule für Angewandte Wissenschaften Kiel (DE)
- Christian-Albrechts-Universität zu Kiel (DE)
- Institut Català de Nanociència i Nanotecnologia (ES)
- Max Planck Institute for the Structure and Dynamics of Matter (DE)
- European X-Ray Free-Electron Laser (DE)
Publication Details
- Journal
- Scientific Reports
- Published
- 2024-10-16
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-72805-1
- Citations
- 1
- Primary Topic
- Ferroelectric and Piezoelectric Materials
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 0.12
Funders
- Diamond Light Source
- Centres de Recerca de Catalunya
- Institut Català de Nanociència i Nanotecnologia
- Generalitat de Catalunya
- Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación
- Agencia Estatal de Investigación