Conduction of topologically-protected charged ferroelectric domain walls

ORAL

Abstract

We report on the observation of nanoscale conduction at ferroelectric domain walls in hexagonal HoMnO$_3$ protected by the topology of multiferroic vortices using \textit{in situ} conductive atomic force microscopy, piezo-response force microscopy, and kelvin-probe force microscopy at low temperatures. Conductance spectra reveal that only negatively charged tail-to-tail walls, in contrast to positively charged head-to-head walls, exhibit ohmic-like conduction in addition to Schottky-like rectification. Our results pave the way for understanding the semiconducting properties of the domains and domain walls in small-gap ferroelectrics.

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Authors

  • Weida Wu

    Department of Physics and Astronomy and Rutgers Center for Emergent Materials, Rutgers University, Piscataway, New Jersey 08854, USA, Department of Physics and Astronomy and Rutgers Center for emergent materials, Rutgers University, Piscataway, NJ 08854 USA

  • Yoichi Horibe

    Rutgers Center for Emergent Materials and Department of Physics and Astronomy, Rutgers University, Piscataway, New Jersey 08854, USA, Department of Physics and Astronomy and Rutgers Center for emergent materials, Rutgers University, Piscataway, NJ 08854 USA

  • Nara Lee

    Department of Physics and Astronomy and Rutgers Center for Emergent Materials, Rutgers University, Piscataway, New Jersey 08854, USA, Rutgers Center for Emergent Materials and Department of Physics and Astronomy, Rutgers University, Piscataway, New Jersey 08854, USA, Rutgers University, Rutgers Center for Emergent Materials and Department of Physics and Astronomy, Rutgers University, Rutgers Center for Emergent Materials and Dept of Phys and Astronomy, Rutgers U., NJ, USA, Department of Physics and Astronomy and Rutgers Center for emergent materials, Rutgers University, Piscataway, NJ 08854 USA

  • S-W. Cheong

    Rutgers Center for Emergent Materials, Rutgers University, Department of Physics and Astronomy and Rutgers Center for Emergent Materials, Rutgers University, Piscataway, New Jersey 08854, USA, Rutgers Center for Emergent Materials and Department of Physics and Astronomy, Rutgers University, Piscataway, New Jersey 08854, USA, Rutgers Center for Emergent Materials and Department of Physics and Astronomy, Rutgers University, Rutgers Center for Emergent Materials and Dept of Phys and Astronomy, Rutgers U., NJ, USA, Department of Physics and Astronomy and Rutgers Center for emergent materials, Rutgers University, Piscataway, NJ 08854 USA

  • Jeffery Guest

    Center for Nanoscale Materials, Argonne National Laboratory, Argonne, IL 60439, USA, Center for Nanoscale Materials, Argonne National Laboratory, Center for Nanoscale Materials, Argonne National Laboratory, Argonne, Illinois 60439 USA