90-degree polarization switching in BaTiO3 crystals without domain wall motion

Abstract

We report 90° polarization switching in a BaTiO3 crystal without domain wall (DW) motion by prefabricating samples with interlocking domains via compression. During electric re-poling of the depoled and aged crystals, 90° domain nucleation still exists, but 90° DW motion is inhibited by the strong constraints from surrounding domains, leading to DW-free 90° polarization switching. The measured coercive field of 500 V/mm for the DW-free 90° switching is close to the intrinsic values and much larger than that of 80 V/mm via 90° DW motion. Compared to the rather difficult domain-free 180° polarization switching in ultrathin films, 90° DW-free switching is easier. © 2013 AIP Publishing LLC.