Stability of electrodeless ferroelectric domains near a ferroelectric/dielectric interface

Abstract

The stability of an electrodeless near-surface ferroelectric domain, such as the one written by the tip of an atomic-force microscope, is considered. The analysis takes into account the domain-wall energy, depolarization energy, and coercive field. The domain is found unstable unless the surface charge is compensated, which was experimentally verified. A high-dielectric substrate is found to stabilize the domain while a low-dielectric substrate has the opposite effect.