R&D: Phase-Field Simulations of Vortex Chirality Manipulation in Ferroelectric Thin Films

npj Quantum Materials has published an article written by Di Liu, Jing Wang, Hasnain Mehdi Jafri, School of Materials Science & Engineering, Beijing Institute of Technology, Beijing, 100081, China, and Advanced Research Institute of Multidisciplinary Science, Beijing Institute of Technology, Beijing, 100081, China, Xueyun Wang, School of Aerospace Engineering, Beijing Institute of Technology, Beijing, 100081, China, Xiaoming Shi, Deshan Liang, Chao Yang, School of Materials Science & Engineering, Beijing Institute of Technology, Beijing, 100081, China, and Advanced Research Institute of Multidisciplinary Science, Beijing Institute of Technology, Beijing, 100081, China, Xingwang Cheng, School of Materials Science & Engineering, Beijing Institute of Technology, Beijing, 100081, China, and Houbing Huang, School of Materials Science & Engineering, Beijing Institute of Technology, Beijing, 100081, China, and Advanced Research Institute of Multidisciplinary Science, Beijing Institute of Technology, Beijing, 100081, China.

Abstract: “The ferroelectric chiral vortex domains are highly desirable for the application of data storage devices with low-energy consumption and high-density integration. However, the controllable switching of vortex chirality remains a challenge in the current ferroelectric community. Utilizing phase-field simulations, we investigate the vortex domain evolution and chirality formation in BiFeO₃ thin films. By applying local surface charge or electric field, we demonstrate that the vorticity and the polarity can be manipulated by the initial bi-domain arrangement and the external field with different directions, respectively. By exchanging the domain arrangements, the opposite chirality can be obtained. Importantly, the topological vortex domain is retained after removing the external field. The vortex chirality can be switched reversibly with high reproducibility, which is beneficial to fatigue tolerance of the material in the operation. These results provide theoretical guidance for manipulating the vortex chirality in ferroelectric films.“