Year: 2025
Type: article
Abstract: The control of ferroelectric topological phases in ultrathin films is central to the development of next-generation nanoelectronic devices. While epitaxial strain is widely used to tune polarization states, its applicability is inherently limited to substrate-bound systems. Here, we show that surface tension becomes a key mechanical factor in freestanding ferroelectric films, governing phase stability and the emergence of topological polarization textures. Using a thermodynamic free energy framework, we show that surface tension induces effective compressive stress in freestanding films, strongly influencing both uniform and topological polarization states. Surface tension also drives large-scale morphological instabilities, reshaping phase behavior in the ferroelectric regime. Our results reveal surface tension as a robust, substrate-independent mechanism for engineering polarization states in freestanding films, creating new opportunities for flexible, strain-free ferroelectric devices.
Source: Nano Letters
Institutions: Leibniz Institute for Solid State and Materials Research, Laboratoire de physique de la matière condensée, Université de Picardie Jules Verne, FZU - Institute of Physics of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas, National University of Rosario, Institute of Physics Rosario, Jožef Stefan Institute, Jožef Stefan International Postgraduate School
Language: English
Subfield: Materials Chemistry
Field: Materials Science
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: hybrid
Estimated APC paid: $4,500
OpenAlex ID: W4413115948