Nanoscale domain engineering in SrRuO${}_3$ thin films

Abstract

We investigate nanoscale domain engineering via epitaxial coupling in a set of SrRuO${}_3$/PbTiO${}_3$/SrRuO${}_3$ heterostructures epitaxially grown on (110)${}_o$-oriented DyScO${}_3$ substrates. The SrRuO${}_3$ layer thickness is kept at 55 unit cells, whereas the PbTiO${}_3$ layer is grown to thicknesses of 23, 45 and 90 unit cells. Through a combination of atomic force microscopy, x-ray diffraction and high resolution scanning transmission electron microscopy studies, we find that above a certain critical thickness of the ferroelectric layer, the large structural distortions associated with the ferroelastic domains propagate through the top SrRuO${}_3$ layer, locally modifying the orientation of the orthorhombic SrRuO${}_3$ and creating a modulated structure that extends beyond the ferroelectric layer boundaries.

19 pages, 6 figures, supplementary materials. arXiv admin note: text overlap with arXiv:2304.06948