Enhancement of ferroelectricity in perovskite BaTiO<sub>3</sub> epitaxial thin films by sulfurization

Xuan Luc Le; Nguyen Dang Phu; Nguyen Xuan Duong; Xuan Luc Le; Nguyen Dang Phu; Nguyen Xuan Duong

doi:10.3934/matersci.2024039

AIMS Materials Science

2024, Volume 11, Issue 4: 802-814. doi: 10.3934/matersci.2024039

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Research article

Enhancement of ferroelectricity in perovskite BaTiO₃ epitaxial thin films by sulfurization

Faculty of Electronics and Telecommunications, VNU University of Engineering and Technology, E3 Building, 144 Xuan Thuy, Hanoi 100000, Vietnam

Received: 25 July 2024 Revised: 08 September 2024 Accepted: 11 September 2024 Published: 13 September 2024

Sulfur is a promising anion dopant for exploring exotic physical phenomena in complex perovskite oxides. However, sulfurization to the epitaxial single-crystal oxide thin films with high crystallinity is experimentally challenging due to the volatility of sulfur element; thus, sulfurization effects on the associated properties have been scarcely studied. Here, we demonstrate an enhancement of ferroelectric polarization of epitaxial BaTiO₃ thin films by sulfur doping. Initially, the epitaxial BaTiO₃ thin films with high crystallinity were grown by pulsed laser deposition (PLD). Then, sulfurization to epitaxial BaTiO₃ films was performed using a precursor of thiourea (CH₄N₂S) solution via a spin-coating technique. The crystalline structure of sulfurized BaTiO₃ films was identified by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning transmission electron microscopy (STEM). The structural distortion with the elongated out-of-plane lattice constant was observed in the sulfurized BaTiO₃ films. Atomic force microscopy (AFM) analyses also confirmed the surface morphology of films after sulfurization. Interestingly, we found an enhanced ferroelectric polarization in sulfur-doped BaTiO₃ films accompanying the improved tetragonality in the crystal structure after sulfurization. The increments in the remnant (~34.8%) and saturated (~30.6%) polarizations of sulfurized BaTiO₃ films were obtained in comparison with pure BaTiO₃ films. Our work could be a primary study for a thorough understanding of the sulfur doping effect in perovskite oxides, opening up the potential of oxysulfide materials.
- sulfurization,
- perovskite oxides,
- ferroelectricity,
- epitaxy,
- thin film
Citation: Xuan Luc Le, Nguyen Dang Phu, Nguyen Xuan Duong. Enhancement of ferroelectricity in perovskite BaTiO3 epitaxial thin films by sulfurization[J]. AIMS Materials Science, 2024, 11(4): 802-814. doi: 10.3934/matersci.2024039

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Abstract

Sulfur is a promising anion dopant for exploring exotic physical phenomena in complex perovskite oxides. However, sulfurization to the epitaxial single-crystal oxide thin films with high crystallinity is experimentally challenging due to the volatility of sulfur element; thus, sulfurization effects on the associated properties have been scarcely studied. Here, we demonstrate an enhancement of ferroelectric polarization of epitaxial BaTiO₃ thin films by sulfur doping. Initially, the epitaxial BaTiO₃ thin films with high crystallinity were grown by pulsed laser deposition (PLD). Then, sulfurization to epitaxial BaTiO₃ films was performed using a precursor of thiourea (CH₄N₂S) solution via a spin-coating technique. The crystalline structure of sulfurized BaTiO₃ films was identified by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning transmission electron microscopy (STEM). The structural distortion with the elongated out-of-plane lattice constant was observed in the sulfurized BaTiO₃ films. Atomic force microscopy (AFM) analyses also confirmed the surface morphology of films after sulfurization. Interestingly, we found an enhanced ferroelectric polarization in sulfur-doped BaTiO₃ films accompanying the improved tetragonality in the crystal structure after sulfurization. The increments in the remnant (~34.8%) and saturated (~30.6%) polarizations of sulfurized BaTiO₃ films were obtained in comparison with pure BaTiO₃ films. Our work could be a primary study for a thorough understanding of the sulfur doping effect in perovskite oxides, opening up the potential of oxysulfide materials.

References

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