Nanoscale Control of Domain Architectures in BiFeO3 Thin Films

We demonstrate an approach to create a one-dimensional nanoscale array of domain walls in epitaxial La-substituted BiFeO3 films. We have used a DySCO3 (110)(o) single-crystal substrate to provide an anisotropic strain to exclude two of the possible structural variants. Furthermore, through careful control of electrostatic boundary conditions, such as the thickness of the SrRuO3 bottom electrode to induce the self-poling effects, we can choose to obtain either 1090 or 710 one-dimensional periodic domain walls. Detailed measurements of the domain structures is shown using piezoresponse force microscopy and X-ray diffraction, which confirms that these periodic structures are the same as those suggested in previous literature.