Converse flexoelectricity yields large piezoresponse force microscopy signals in non-piezoelectric materials

Converse flexoelectricity is a mechanical stress induced by an electric polarization gradient. It can appear in any material, irrespective of symmetry, whenever there is an inhomogeneous electric field distribution. This situation invariably happens in piezoresponse force microscopy (PFM), which is...

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Detalles Bibliográficos
Autores: Abdollahi, Amir|||0000-0003-0363-4984, Domingo Marimon, Neus|||0000-0002-5229-6638, Arias, Irene|||0000-0002-6761-3499, Catalan, Gustau|||0000-0003-0214-4828
Tipo de recurso: artículo
Fecha de publicación:2019
País:España
Institución:Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona
Repositorio:Dipòsit Digital de Documents de la UAB
Idioma:inglés
OAI Identifier:oai:ddd.uab.cat:204925
Acceso en línea:https://ddd.uab.cat/record/204925
https://dx.doi.org/urn:doi:10.1038/s41467-019-09266-y
Access Level:acceso abierto
Palabra clave:Atomic force microscopy
Electronic properties and materials
Descripción
Sumario:Converse flexoelectricity is a mechanical stress induced by an electric polarization gradient. It can appear in any material, irrespective of symmetry, whenever there is an inhomogeneous electric field distribution. This situation invariably happens in piezoresponse force microscopy (PFM), which is a technique whereby a voltage is delivered to the tip of an atomic force microscope in order to stimulate and probe piezoelectricity at the nanoscale. While PFM is the premier technique for studying ferroelectricity and piezoelectricity at the nanoscale, here we show, theoretically and experimentally, that large effective piezoelectric coefficients can be measured in non-piezoelectric dielectrics due to converse flexoelectricity.