We applied phase-field approach to investigate both ferroelectric and antiferrodistortive (AFD) transitions in (001) SrTiO3 epitaxial thin films that are strained biaxially. A domain/phase stability diagram of "misfit strain-temperature" was constructed for equi-biaxially strained (001) SrTiO3 thin films, which exhibits significant differences from previous diagrams obtained using thermodynamic analysis of a single domain. For unequi-biaxially strained (001) SrTiO3 thin films, "misfit strain-misfit strain" domain stability diagrams at several representative temperatures were obtained. The predicted phase transitions, domain stabilities, and domain structures in three different SrTiO3 thin films under either equi-biaxial or unequi-biaxial strains agree well with experimental observations.
Revised: October 21, 2011 |
Published: October 15, 2010
Citation
Sheng G., Y. Li, J. Zhang, S. Choudhury, Q. Jia, V. Gopalan, and D.G. Schlom, et al. 2010.Phase transitions and domain stabilities in biaxially strained (001) SrTiO3 epitaxial thin films.Journal of Applied Physics 108, no. 8:Article No. 084113.PNNL-SA-74812.doi:10.1063/1.3488636