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Phonon localization drives polar nanoregions in a relaxor ferroelectric.

Publication ,  Journal Article
Manley, ME; Lynn, JW; Abernathy, DL; Specht, ED; Delaire, O; Bishop, AR; Sahul, R; Budai, JD
Published in: Nature communications
April 2014

Relaxor ferroelectrics exemplify a class of functional materials where interplay between disorder and phase instability results in inhomogeneous nanoregions. Although known for about 30 years, there is no definitive explanation for polar nanoregions (PNRs). Here we show that ferroelectric phonon localization drives PNRs in relaxor ferroelectric PMN-30%PT using neutron scattering. At the frequency of a preexisting resonance mode, nanoregions of standing ferroelectric phonons develop with a coherence length equal to one wavelength and the PNR size. Anderson localization of ferroelectric phonons by resonance modes explains our observations and, with nonlinear slowing, the PNRs and relaxor properties. Phonon localization at additional resonances near the zone edges explains competing antiferroelectric distortions known to occur at the zone edges. Our results indicate the size and shape of PNRs that are not dictated by complex structural details, as commonly assumed, but by phonon resonance wave vectors. This discovery could guide the design of next generation relaxor ferroelectrics.

Duke Scholars

Published In

Nature communications

DOI

EISSN

2041-1723

ISSN

2041-1723

Publication Date

April 2014

Volume

5

Start / End Page

3683

Related Subject Headings

  • X-Ray Diffraction
  • Phonons
  • Neutron Diffraction
  • Nanostructures
  • Iron Compounds
  • Electricity
  • Crystallization
 

Citation

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Manley, M. E., Lynn, J. W., Abernathy, D. L., Specht, E. D., Delaire, O., Bishop, A. R., … Budai, J. D. (2014). Phonon localization drives polar nanoregions in a relaxor ferroelectric. Nature Communications, 5, 3683. https://doi.org/10.1038/ncomms4683
Manley, M. E., J. W. Lynn, D. L. Abernathy, E. D. Specht, O. Delaire, A. R. Bishop, R. Sahul, and J. D. Budai. “Phonon localization drives polar nanoregions in a relaxor ferroelectric.Nature Communications 5 (April 2014): 3683. https://doi.org/10.1038/ncomms4683.
Manley ME, Lynn JW, Abernathy DL, Specht ED, Delaire O, Bishop AR, et al. Phonon localization drives polar nanoregions in a relaxor ferroelectric. Nature communications. 2014 Apr;5:3683.
Manley, M. E., et al. “Phonon localization drives polar nanoregions in a relaxor ferroelectric.Nature Communications, vol. 5, Apr. 2014, p. 3683. Epmc, doi:10.1038/ncomms4683.
Manley ME, Lynn JW, Abernathy DL, Specht ED, Delaire O, Bishop AR, Sahul R, Budai JD. Phonon localization drives polar nanoregions in a relaxor ferroelectric. Nature communications. 2014 Apr;5:3683.

Published In

Nature communications

DOI

EISSN

2041-1723

ISSN

2041-1723

Publication Date

April 2014

Volume

5

Start / End Page

3683

Related Subject Headings

  • X-Ray Diffraction
  • Phonons
  • Neutron Diffraction
  • Nanostructures
  • Iron Compounds
  • Electricity
  • Crystallization