Ferroelectric domain structure of the BiFeO3 film grown on different substrates
Abstract Domain structure of BiFeO 3 (BFO) films grown on different substrates, with a conductive La 0.7 Sr 0.3 MnO 3 underlayer, has been experimentally studied. Two oppositely orientated polarizations, along the long body diagonal to the perovskite unit cell of BFO, are detected in the BFO films on the (0 0 1)-oriented NdGaO 3 . Electric pulses applied in the [0 0 1] direction produce a polarization switching, resulting in the domain structure characterized by the 109° domain walls. Contrary to the BFO films on NdGaO 3 , the BFO films on SrTiO 3 (0 0 1) exhibit a much complex domain structure. Both 71° and 109° domain walls are possible with a uniform polarization component pointing to the bottom electrode.