Low-symmetry monoclinic phase stabilized by oxygen octahedra rotations in thin strained EuxSr1-xTiO3 films

Abstract

Using Landau-Ginzburg-Devonshire theory and phase field modeling, we explore the complex interplay between the long-range structural order parameter (oxygen octahedron rotations) and polarization in EuxSr1-xTiO3 thin epitaxial films. In biaxially tensile strained films, we discover the presence of a low symmetry monoclinic phase with in-plane ferroelectric polarization that is stabilized by antiferrodistortive oxygen octahedra tilts. The monoclinic phase is stable in a wide temperature range, and is characterized by the large number of energetically equivalent polar and structural twin domains, which stimulates easy twinning of the film and thus enhances its effective piezoelectric response. The flexoelectric coupling and rotostriction give rise to additional spontaneous polarization, piezo- and pyro-electricity in the ferroelastic twin boundaries.

23 pages, 5 figures, 1 table, 3 appendices

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Cited by in corpus (5)

• Spin-lattice coupling induced weak dynamical magnetism in EuTiO_3 at high temperatures
• Structural, dielectric, ferroelectric and tuning properties of Pb-free ferroelectric Ba0.9Sr0.1Ti1-xSnxO3
• Rotomagnetic couplings influence on the magnetic properties of antiferrodistortive antiferromagnets
• Stability and low-energy orientations of interphase boundaries in multiaxial ferroelectrics: Phase-field simulations
• Metastability effects in strained and stressed SrTiO3 films