Stabilization and manipulation of in-plane polarization in a ferroelectric|dielectric superlattice

We investigate in-plane ferroelectricity in an epitaxial ferroelectric|dielectric PbTiO3|SrTiO3 (PTO|STO) superlattice under tensile strain. Using a combination of x-ray diffraction and piezoresponse force microscopy, we identify strain-induced periodic nanoscale domain architecture with polarization along the base diagonals PTO unit cell. scrutinize its switching behavior using local trailing fields from scanning-probe tip. For electric field pointing direction specific state, create stable single-domain areas at scale tens micrometers. Our findings on controlling robust ultrathin ferroelectric layers can help one to develop device concepts unaffected by detrimental effects depolarizing field.