Browsing by Author "Zhang, J. X."

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A Strain-Driven Morphotropic Phase Boundary in BiFeO(3)
(2009-11-13)
Zeches, R. J.
;
Rossell, M. D.
;
Zhang, J. X.
;
Hatt, A. J.
;
He, Q.
Piezoelectric materials, which convert mechanical to electrical energy and vice versa, are typically characterized by the intimate coexistence of two phases across a morphotropic phase boundary. Electrically switching one to the other yields large electromechanical coupling coefficients. Driven by global environmental concerns, there is currently a strong push to discover practical lead-free piezoelectrics for device engineering. Using a combination of epitaxial growth techniques in conjunction with theoretical approaches, we show the formation of a morphotropic phase boundary through epitaxial constraint in lead-free piezoelectric bismuth ferrite (BiFeO(3)) films. Electric field-dependent studies show that a tetragonal-like phase can be reversibly converted into a rhombohedral-like phase, accompanied by measurable displacements of the surface, making this new lead-free system of interest for probe-based data storage and actuator applications.
A Strain-Driven Morphotropic Phase Boundary in BiFeO3
(2009-11-13)
Zeches, R. J.
;
Rossell, M. D.
;
Zhang, J. X.
;
Hatt, A. J.
;
He, Q.
Piezoelectric materials, which convert mechanical to electrical energy and vice versa, are typically characterized by the intimate coexistence of two phases across a morphotropic phase boundary. Electrically switching one to the other yields large electromechanical coupling coefficients. Driven by global environmental concerns, there is currently a strong push to discover practical lead-free piezoelectrics for device engineering. Using a combination of epitaxial growth techniques in conjunction with theoretical approaches, we show the formation of a morphotropic phase boundary through epitaxial constraint in lead-free piezoelectric bismuth ferrite (BiFeO3) films. Electric field-dependent studies show that a tetragonal-like phase can be reversibly converted into a rhombohedral-like phase, accompanied by measurable displacements of the surface, making this new lead-free system of interest for probe-based data storage and actuator applications.
Interface control of bulk ferroelectric polarization
(2012-06-19)
Yu, P.
;
Luo, W.
;
Yi, D.
;
Zhang, J. X.
;
Rossell, M. D.
The control of material interfaces at the atomic level has led to novel interfacial properties and functionalities. In particular, the study of polar discontinuities at interfaces between complex oxides lies at the frontier of modern condensed matter research. Here we employ a combination of experimental measurements and theoretical calculations to demonstrate the control of a bulk property, namely ferroelectric polarization, of a heteroepitaxial bilayer by precise atomic-scale interface engineering. More specifically, the control is achieved by exploiting the interfacial valence mismatch to influence the electrostatic potential step across the interface, which manifests itself as the biased-voltage in ferroelectric hysteresis loops and determines the ferroelectric state. A broad study of diverse systems comprising different ferroelectrics and conducting perovskite underlayers extends the generality of this phenomenon.
Interface Ferromagnetism and Orbital Reconstruction in BiFeO(3)-La(0.7)Sr(0.3)MnO(3) Heterostructures
(2010-07-06)
Yu, P.
;
Lee, J. -S.
;
Okamoto, S.
;
Rossell, M. D.
;
Huijben, M.
We report the formation of a novel ferromagnetic state in the antiferromagnet BiFeO(3) at the interface with ferromagnet La(0.7)Sr(0.3)MnO(3). Using x-ray magnetic circular dichroism at Mn and Fe L(2,3) edges, we discovered that the development of this ferromagnetic spin structure is strongly associated with the onset of a significant exchange bias. Our results demonstrate that the magnetic state is directly related to an electronic orbital reconstruction at the interface, which is supported by the linearly polarized x-ray absorption measurement at the oxygen K edge.
Interface Ferromagnetism and Orbital Reconstruction in BiFeO3-La0.7Sr0.3MnO3 Heterostructures
(2010-07-06)
Yu, P.
;
Lee, J. -S.
;
Okamoto, S.
;
Rossell, M. D.
;
Huijben, M.
We report the formation of a novel ferromagnetic state in the antiferromagnet BiFeO3 at the interface with ferromagnet La0.7Sr0.3MnO3. Using x-ray magnetic circular dichroism at Mn and Fe L-2,L-3 edges, we discovered that the development of this ferromagnetic spin structure is strongly associated with the onset of a significant exchange bias. Our results demonstrate that the magnetic state is directly related to an electronic orbital reconstruction at the interface, which is supported by the linearly polarized x-ray absorption measurement at the oxygen K edge.
Large field-induced strains in a lead-free piezoelectric material
(2011-02-01)
Zhang, J. X.
;
Xiang, B.
;
He, Q.
;
Seidel, J.
;
Zeches, R. J.
Piezoelectric materials exhibit a mechanical response to electrical inputs, as well as an electrical response to mechanical inputs, which makes them useful in sensors and actuators(1). Lead-based piezoelectrics demonstrate a large mechanical response, but they also pose a health risk(2). The ferroelectric BiFeO(3) is an attractive alternative because it is lead-free, and because strain can stabilize BiFeO(3) phases with a structure that resembles a morphotropic phase boundary(3). Here we report a reversible electric-field-induced strain of over 5% in BiFeO(3) films, together with a characterization of the origins of this effect. In situ transmission electron microscopy coupled with nanoscale electrical and mechanical probing shows that large strains result from moving the boundaries between tetragonal- and rhombohedral-like phases, which changes the phase stability of the mixture. These results demonstrate the potential of BiFeO(3) as a substitute for lead-based materials in future piezoelectric applications.
Microscopic Origin of the Giant Ferroelectric Polarization in Tetragonal-like BiFeO(3)
(2011-09-29)
Zhang, J. X.
;
He, Q.
;
Trassin, M.
;
Luo, W.
;
Yi, D.
We report direct experimental evidence for a room-temperature, similar to 130 mu C/cm(2) ferroelectric polarization from the tetragonal-like BiFeO(3) phase. The physical origin of this remarkable enhancement of ferroelectric polarization has been investigated by a combination of x-ray absorption spectroscopy, scanning transmission electron microscopy, and first principles calculations. A large strain-induced Fe-ion displacement relative to the oxygen octahedra, combined with the contribution of Bi 6s lone pair electrons, is the mechanism driving the large ferroelectric polarization in this tetragonal-like phase.
Microscopic Origin of the Giant Ferroelectric Polarization in Tetragonal-like BiFeO3
(2011-09-29)
Zhang, J. X.
;
He, Q.
;
Trassin, M.
;
Luo, W.
;
Yi, D.
We report direct experimental evidence for a room-temperature, similar to 130 mu C/cm(2) ferroelectric polarization from the tetragonal-like BiFeO3 phase. The physical origin of this remarkable enhancement of ferroelectric polarization has been investigated by a combination of x-ray absorption spectroscopy, scanning transmission electron microscopy, and first principles calculations. A large strain-induced Fe-ion displacement relative to the oxygen octahedra, combined with the contribution of Bi 6s lone pair electrons, is the mechanism driving the large ferroelectric polarization in this tetragonal-like phase.
Nanoscale phase boundaries: a new twist to novel functionalities
(2012)
Zhang, J. X.
;
Zeches, R. J.
;
He, Q.
;
Chu, Y. -H.
;
Ramesh, R.
In functional materials, nanoscale phase boundaries exhibit exotic phenomena that are notably absent in their parent phases. Over the past two decades, much of the research into complex oxides (such as cuprate superconductors, CMR manganites and relaxor ferroelectrics) has demonstrated the key role that nanoscale inhomogeneities play in controlling the electronic and/or ionic structure of these materials. One of the key characteristics in such systems is the strong susceptibility to external perturbations, such as magnetic, electric and mechanical fields. A direct consequence of the accommodation of a large number of cationic substitutions in complex oxides is the emergence of a number of physical phenomena from essentially the same crystal framework. Recently, multiferroic behavior, which is characterized by the co-existence and potential coupling of multiple ferroic order parameters, has captured considerable worldwide research interest. The perovskite, BiFeO3, exhibits robust ferroelectricity coupled with antiferromagnetism at room temperature. A rather unique feature of this material system is its ability to "morph" its ground state when an external mechanical constraint is imposed on it. A particularly striking example is observed when a large (similar to 4 to 5%) compressive strain is imposed on a thin film through the epitaxial constraint from the underlying substrate. Under these conditions, the ground state rhombohedral phase transforms into a tetragonal-like (or a derivative thereof) phase with a rather large unit cell (c/a ratio of similar to 1.26). When the epitaxial constraint is partially relaxed by increasing the film thickness, this tetragonal-like phase evolves into a "mixed-phase" state, consisting of a nanoscale admixture of the rhombohedral-like phase embedded in the tetragonal-like phase. Such a system gives us a new pathway to explore a variety of mechanical, magnetic and transport phenomena in constrained dimensions. This article reviews our progress to date in this direction and also captures some possible areas of future research. We use the electromechanical response and the magnetic properties as examples to illustrate that its novel functionalities are intrinsically due to the phase boundaries and not the constituent phases. The possible origin of the giant piezoelectric response and enhanced magnetic moment across the boundaries is proposed based on the flexoelectric and flexomagnetic effects.