Journal Article

Sliding induced multiple polarization states in two-dimensional ferroelectrics

Zhang, Qi, Wu, Yaze, Dong, Biao, Pan, Er, Zhang, Yong-Wei, Wu, Lishu, Meng, Peng, Fu, Qundong, Liu, Fucai, Bian, Renji, Chen, Jiangang, Liu, Qing, Zhao, Xiaoxu, Sun, Yuqi, Shi, Dong, Liu, Zheng

2022

Overview

When the atomic layers in a non-centrosymmetric van der Waals structure slide against each other, the interfacial charge transfer results in a reversal of the structure’s spontaneous polarization. This phenomenon is known as sliding ferroelectricity and it is markedly different from conventional ferroelectric switching mechanisms relying on ion displacement. Here, we present layer dependence as a new dimension to control sliding ferroelectricity. By fabricating 3 R MoS 2 of various thicknesses into dual-gate field-effect transistors, we obtain anomalous intermediate polarization states in multilayer (more than bilayer) 3 R MoS 2 . Using results from ab initio density functional theory calculations, we propose a generalized model to describe the ferroelectric switching process in multilayer 3 R MoS 2 and to explain the formation of these intermediate polarization states. This work reveals the critical roles layer number and interlayer dipole coupling play in sliding ferroelectricity and presents a new strategy for the design of novel sliding ferroelectric devices. Layer dependence is an important aspect to properties of van der Waals materials. Here, the authors obtain layer dependent multiple polarization states in 3 R MoS 2 and propose a generalized model to describe their ferroelectric switching processes.

• Publisher: Nature Publishing Group UK,Nature Publishing Group,Nature Portfolio
• Subject: 639/301/357/1018 / 639/766/119/996 / Bilayers / Charge transfer / Density functional theory / Dipole interactions / Electric fields / Ferroelectric materials / Ferroelectricity / Ferroelectrics / Field effect transistors / Humanities and Social Sciences / Interlayers / Materials science / Microscopy / Molybdenum disulfide / multidisciplinary / Multilayers / Polarization / Science / Science (multidisciplinary) / Semiconductor devices / Sliding / Switching / Symmetry / Transistors