Light-induced strain and its correlation with the optical absorption at charged domain walls in polycrystalline ferroelectrics

Photostrictive materials have a growing interest because of their great potential as light-driven actuators, among other optomechanical applications. In this context, the optical control of macroscopic strain in ferroelectrics has recently attracted remarkable attention as an effective alternative t...

Full description

Bibliographic Details
Authors: Rubio Marcos, Fernando, Pamies, Paula, Del Campo Garcia, Angel Adolfo, Tiana, Jordi, Ordóñez Pimentel, Jonathan, Venet, Michel, Rojas Hernández, Rocio E., Ochoa Guerrero, Diego A.|||0000-0002-8756-9704, Fernández Lozano, José Francisco, García García, José Eduardo|||0000-0002-1232-1739
Format: article
Publication Date:2023
Country:España
Institution:Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya (UPC)
Repository:UPCommons. Portal del coneixement obert de la UPC
Language:English
OAI Identifier:oai:upcommons.upc.edu:2117/387245
Online Access:https://hdl.handle.net/2117/387245
https://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.apmt.2023.101838
Access Level:Open access
Keyword:Ferroelectricity
Photoferroelectrics
Ferroelectric domain walls
Optical absorption
Barium titanate
Photoinduced strain
Ferroelectricitat
Àrees temàtiques de la UPC::Energies::Energia solar fotovoltaica
Description
Summary:Photostrictive materials have a growing interest because of their great potential as light-driven actuators, among other optomechanical applications. In this context, the optical control of macroscopic strain in ferroelectrics has recently attracted remarkable attention as an effective alternative to the conventional electric control of strain. Here, a clear correlation between optical absorption and light-induced strain in polycrystalline BaTiO3 is shown. Specifically, the grain size and the sample thickness dependence of optical absorption when the material is irradiated with energy photons lower than the band gap evidence that light absorption at charged domain walls is the core of the observed photo-response in ferroelectrics. The photoinduced electronic reconstruction phenomenon is proposed as the primary physical mechanism for light absorption at charged domain walls. Results open a new pathway to designing ferroelectric-based devices with new functionalities like thickness gradient-based photo-controlled nanoactuators.