Fine tuning epitaxial strain in ferroelectrics: Pb x Sr 1 − x TiO 3 on DyScO 3

• Published in: Applied physics letters Vol. 97; no. 26; pp. 262901 - 262901-3
• Main Authors: Rispens, G., Heuver, J. A., Noheda, B.
• Format: Journal Article
• Published: American Institute of Physics 29-12-2010
• ISSN: 0003-6951; 1077-3118
• DOI: 10.1063/1.3532103

Epitaxial strain can be efficiently used to modify the properties of ferroelectric thin films. From the experimental viewpoint, the challenge is to fine-tune the magnitude of the strain. We illustrate here how, by using a suitable combination of composition and substrate, the magnitude of the epitaxial strain can be controlled in a continuous manner. The phase diagram of
Pb
x
Sr
1
−
x
TiO
3
films grown epitaxially on (110)-
DyScO
3
is calculated using a Devonshire-Landau approach. A boundary between in-plane and out-of-plane oriented ferroelectric phases is predicted to take place at
x
≈
0.8
. A series of
Pb
x
Sr
1
−
x
TiO
3
epitaxial films grown by molecular beam epitaxy shows good agreement with the proposed phase diagram.