Modulated Double‐Switching Characteristics in BiFeO <sub>3</sub> Films via Anion Engineering
ABSTRACT Ferroelectric polarization configurations dominate the intrinsic physical properties of ferroelectrics, and underpin advances in strain response, ferroelectric energy storage, and topological electronic devices. Here, low‐level sulfur incorporation is proposed as a feasible anion engineering strategy to effectively tune the polarization behavior of BiFeO 3 thin films. At sulfur stoichiometries below 3%, the sulfurized films exhibit distinctive multi‐level polarization evolution and unique double‐switching characteristics, which are distinct from response of pristine ferroelectric BiFeO 3 . Based on synchrotron‐based X‐ray diffraction, X‐ray absorption spectroscopy and Raman spectroscopy, anion‐triggered chemical stresses is shown to induce anisotropic lattice distortion and reconstruct the cation–anion coordination environment. Atomic‐resolution spherical‐aberration‐corrected transmission electron microscopy further reveals that sulfurization effectively regulates polarization states and significantly enhances domain heterogeneity, thereby remodeling local polarization configurations. These structural and polarization evolutions collectively create favorable conditions for the emergence of modulated double‐switching behavior in sulfurized BiFeO 3 films, highlighting the great potential of anion engineering as an effective yet underexplored strategy to tailor polarization states of ferroelectric materials.
Authors
- Wugang Liao (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1461-2222)
- Linxing Zhang (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6767-2771)
- Hangren Li (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8075-6163)
- Xiongfeng Wang
- Jiajia Zha (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0551-285X)
- Xiaojin Zhao (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9965-3516)
- Haoxin Huang (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8913-1768)
- Jie Tu (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5156-4795)
- Guoqiang Xi
Institutions
- City University of Hong Kong (HK)
- Shenzhen University (CN)
- Beijing University of Technology (CN)
- Institute of Solid State Physics (CN)
- University of Science and Technology Beijing (CN)
Publication Details
- Journal
- Small
- Published
- 2026-08-03
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1002/smll.75046
- Primary Topic
- Multiferroics and related materials
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 0.00
Funders
- National Natural Science Foundation of China
- National Key Research and Development Program of China
- Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities
- National Program for Support of Top-notch Young Professionals