Axial polarization switching in ferroelectric BaTiO3 nanowire

We report the study of direct ferroelectric polarization switching of a single crystal BaTiO3 nanowire along its length axis. Polarization switching under axial dc bias, monitored with lateral mode piezoresponse force microscopy, was shown to be non-remnant. The result suggested the existence of a preferred polarization orientation in BaTiO3 nanowire, i.e., a polarization imprint, and was explained with a core-shell polarization structure model. The polarization shell thickness was estimated to be similar to 10 nm for a BaTiO3 nanowire having a thickness of similar to 120 nm.