Strain phase separation: Formation of ferroelastic domain structures

Fei Xue, Yongjun Li, Yijia Gu, Jinxing Zhang, Long Qing Chen

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

27 Scopus citations

Abstract

Phase decomposition is a well-known process leading to the formation of two-phase mixtures. Here we show that a strain imposed on a ferroelastic crystal promotes the formation of mixed phases and domains, i.e., strain phase separation with local strains determined by a common tangent construction on the free energy versus strain curves. It is demonstrated that a domain structure can be understood using the concepts of domain/phase rule, lever rule, and coherent and incoherent strain phase separation, in a complete analogy to phase decomposition. The proposed strain phase separation model is validated using phase-field simulations and experimental observations of PbTiO3 and BiFeO3 thin films as examples. The proposed model provides a simple tool to guide and design domain structures of ferroelastic systems.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Article number220101
JournalPhysical Review B
Volume94
Issue number22
DOIs
StatePublished - Dec 2 2016

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • Electronic, Optical and Magnetic Materials
  • Condensed Matter Physics

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Strain phase separation: Formation of ferroelastic domain structures'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this