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337250 
Journal Article 
Threading dislocations in epitaxial ferroelectric PbZr[sup]0.2[/sup]Ti[sup]0.8[/sup]O[sup]3[/sup] films and their effect on polarization backswitching 
Vrejoiu, I; Le Rhun, G; Zakharov, ND; Hesse, D; Pintilie, L; Alexe, M 
2006 
1 
Philosophical Magazine
ISSN: 1478-6435
EISSN: 1478-6443 
86 
28 
4477-4486 
The existence of threading dislocations in ferroelectric heterostructures has been frequently reported. However, their origin and impact on the ferroelectric properties are not sufficiently understood. PbZr[sup]0.2[/sup]Ti[sup]0.8[/sup]O[sup]3[/sup]/SrRuO[sup]3[/sup] heterostructures were epitaxially grown by pulsed-laser deposition (PLD) onto vicinal SrTiO[sup]3[/sup](001) substrates. The threading dislocations exhibited by the PbZr[sup]0.2[/sup]Ti[sup]0.8[/sup]O[sup]3[/sup] films were investigated by cross-sectional and plan-view (high-resolution) transmission electron microscopy. Many threading dislocations were dissociated into dipoles spanning a, most probably lead-rich, stacking fault. It is likely that these dislocations are able to pin 180° ferroelectric domains, as suggested by a comparison between piezo-force microscope and transmission electron micrographs obtained on identical samples. Local backswitching of the polarization was observed in the vicinity of such threading dislocations. (English) 
Ruthénium oxyde; Couche épitaxique; Hétérostructure; Composé quaternaire; Zirconium titanate; Plomb titanate; Matériau ferroélectrique; Croissance cristalline en phase vapeur; Microscopie électronique transmission; Laser pulsé; Méthode ablation laser; Commutation; Polarisation; Dislocation; Etude expérimentale; Métal transition composé; Composé minéral; Substrat SrTiO3; O Ru Sr; SrRuO3; O Pb Ti Zr; PbZr0,7Ti0,8O3; Ruthenium oxides; Epitaxial layers; Heterostructures; Quaternary compounds; Zirconium titanates; Lead titanates; Ferroelectric materials; Crystal growth from vapors; Transmission electron microscopy; Pulsed lasers; Laser ablation technique; Switching; Polarization; Dislocations; Experimental study; Transition element compounds; Inorganic compounds