Abstract
We report direct experimental evidence for a room-temperature, ferroelectric polarization from the tetragonal-like phase. The physical origin of this remarkable enhancement of ferroelectric polarization has been investigated by a combination of x-ray absorption spectroscopy, scanning transmission electron microscopy, and first principles calculations. A large strain-induced Fe-ion displacement relative to the oxygen octahedra, combined with the contribution of Bi lone pair electrons, is the mechanism driving the large ferroelectric polarization in this tetragonal-like phase.
- Received 21 May 2011
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.107.147602
© 2011 American Physical Society