Size-dependent polarization retention in ferroelectric BiFeO3 domain wall memories

Reliable polarization retention in a single crystal-like ferroelectric thin film is crucial for the effective imple-mentation of ferroelectric domain wall (DW) memories. This ensures that the saved information can be non-destructively read out by identifying the resistive state of the memory with a voltage signal below the coer-cive voltage (Vc) of the ferroelectric film. However, stabilizing a small volume of switched polarization for ultra-high-density information storage applications is still challenging due to its back-switching behavior at zero electric field. In this study, we investigated the polarization retention of ferroelectric BiFeO3 (BFO) thin film devices with size-variable Pt electrodes. With the scaling down of the device size, the switched polarizations became more susceptible to depolarization field and ferroelastic stress arising at the artificially created domain boundary. We found that BFO devices featuring a switched polarization area larger than 7 x 106 nm2 demon-strated both long-term polarization retention and a current rectification ratio of 4.5:1 induced by DW manipu-lation. As the device size decreases, the retention time of the switched polarization reduces gradually, which results in the disappearance of the device current due to the DW being eliminated by the back-switching of the polarization. A plot was created to illustrate the relationship between the current retention time and the switched polarization area on the surface of the BFO thin films. Furthermore, the unsustainable polarization retention facilitates a higher current rectification ratio of 48:1, which is suitable for non-destructive information readout with a voltage pulse larger than Vc in high-density ferroelectric DW memories.

Automated summary

Reliable polarization retention is crucial for ferroelectric domain wall memories. In this study, the polarization retention of BiFeO3 thin film devices with size-variable electrodes was investigated. Smaller device sizes resulted in decreased retention time of switched polarization, leading to the elimination of device current due to back-switching. Unsustainable polarization retention facilitated higher current rectification ratio, suitable for non-destructive information readout in high-density ferroelectric DW memories.