Work

Deterministic 1D Domain Wall Motion with Nucleation-Free Nature in Sliding Ferroelectric Switching

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: Inhomogeneous domain nucleation and stochastic motion of the domain wall (DW) during the polarization switching process in conventional ferroelectrics introduce a spectrum of intricate kinetic challenges for the reliable and precise manipulation of polarization states, a prerequisite for many ferroelectric implementations. Combining deep-learning-assisted molecular dynamics simulations, microscopic-scale observations, and device-scale electrical measurements, it reveals that sliding ferroelectrics inherently circumvent these issues, with an intrinsic domain-nucleation-free polarization reversal. Using 3 R − MoS 2 as a model system, we demonstrate that DW motion occurs along a well-defined 1D pathway in a collective manner, without domain nucleation. Leveraging this predictable domain dynamics, we demonstrate deterministic multistate polarization switching, achieving remarkable precision and repeatability with a variation coefficient of less than 0.2%, 10 times improved over conventional ferroelectrics. This work provides valuable insights into the unique kinetics of DW motion in sliding ferroelectrics and offers opportunities for ferroelectric multistate devices with ultraprecision control.

Source: Physical Review X

DOI: 10.1103/q624-x397