Scientists Create Stable Room-Temperature Topological Nanodomains in Barium Titanate
Scientists have discovered a method to modify the topological textures of barium titanate by incorporating zirconium. This breakthrough, led by Prof. Dr. Marlies Knupfer at the Helmholtz-Zentrum Berlin, opens avenues to generating fractionalized ferroelectric topology through chemical programming.
The research team found that substituting 12.5% of barium titanate with zirconium preserves the rhombohedral structure above 300 Kelvin. This facilitates the stabilization of field-induced nanodomains at room temperature. The substitution also engenders a distinctive Z2 color holonomy, shifting topological charge across chemical interfaces.
At elevated concentrations, the system transitions to a skyrmion-glass-like state, with a heterogeneous distribution of topological charge. Nevertheless, precise 12.5% substitution induces a splitting of topological charge, sustaining stable nanodomains with antiskyrmions and skyrmions. These structures endure stability at temperatures up to room temperature. The team accomplished this by doubling the unit cell of the perovskite structure and substituting one titanium atom with zirconium, engendering a chemically ordered superlattice.
The research underscores that ordered 12.5% zirconium substitution in barium titanate stabilizes field-induced nanodomains at room temperature and creates stable antiskyrmions and skyrmions. These insights pave the way for developing multistate, reconfigurable devices with unique topological properties.
