Coexistence of Flexo- and Ferro-Electric Effects in an Ordered Assembly of BaTiO3 Nanocubes

It has been reported that the flexoelectric effect could be dominant in the nanoscale. The discrepancy between theory and experiments on the frequency dependence of the dielectric constant of an ordered assembly of BaTiO3 nanocubes is nearly resolved by assuming the coexistence of flexo- and ferro-electric effects. Although flexoelectric polarizations perpendicular to the applied alternating electric field contribute to the dielectric constant, those parallel to the electric field do not contribute because the magnitude of the flexoelectric polarization does not change due to the mismatch of strain at the interface of the nanocubes. On the other hand, some dielectric response is possible for the ferroelectric component of the polarization parallel to the electric field.

Automated summary

The flexoelectric effect and ferroelectric effect may both influence the dielectric constant at the nanoscale. While the magnitude of the flexoelectric polarization does not change due to strain mismatch at the interface of nanocubes, it does not contribute to the dielectric constant. However, the ferroelectric component parallel to the electric field may have some impact on the dielectric response.