Abstract
The use of photonic concepts to achieve nanoactuation based on light triggering requires complex architectures to obtain the desired effect. In this context, the recent discovery of reversible optical control of the domain configuration in ferroelectrics offers a light-ferroic interplay that can be easily controlled. To date, however, the optical control of ferroelectric domains has been explored in single crystals, although polycrystals are technologically more desirable because they can be manufactured in a scalable and reproducible fashion. Here we report experimental evidence for a large photostrain response in polycrystalline BaTiO3 that is comparable to their electrostrain values. Domains engineering is performed through grain size control, thereby evidencing that charged domain walls appear to be the functional interfaces for the light-driven domain switching. The findings shed light on the design of high-performance photoactuators based on ferroelectric ceramics, providing a feasible alternative to conventional voltage-driven nanoactuators.
Highlights
Control of the crystal lattice distortion in a material by light may offer the opportunity to develop new applications that are as yet unexplored.[1−10] The appearance of new stimuli able to tune material response in a more-efficient and less-invasive manner opens up unexplored possibilities to design new device concepts
The reversible optical control of the macroscopic polarization in ferroelectrics has provided an excellent platform for strain control, offering notable advantages such as reduced Joule heating losses, noninvasiveness, high spatiotemporal resolution, and easy external control of the strain without physical contact.[7−9] The electrostrain, which aims to produce a strain by the application of an external electric stimulus, is a critical aspect of materials for their use as actuators.[11−13] Because the fundamental electrostrain mechanism is governed by domain switching in ferroelectrics,[12] many efforts have been made to attain efficient control over it, but typically through electric fields
By considering charged domain walls (CDWs) as functional elements for the photoresponse observed in polycrystalline ferroelectrics,[7] the configuration of the domain structure is proposed to be manipulated in two extreme cases through grain-size control
Summary
Control of the crystal lattice distortion in a material (that is, its strain) by light may offer the opportunity to develop new applications that are as yet unexplored.[1−10] The appearance of new stimuli able to tune material response in a more-efficient and less-invasive manner opens up unexplored possibilities to design new device concepts In this perspective, the reversible optical control of the macroscopic polarization in ferroelectrics has provided an excellent platform for strain control, offering notable advantages such as reduced Joule heating losses, noninvasiveness, high spatiotemporal resolution, and easy external control of the strain without physical contact.[7−9] The electrostrain, which aims to produce a strain by the application of an external electric stimulus, is a critical aspect of materials for their use as actuators.[11−13] Because the fundamental electrostrain mechanism is governed by domain switching in ferroelectrics,[12] many efforts have been made to attain efficient control over it, but typically through electric fields. It is evidenced that the photoresponse is induced by the CDWs appearance, which enables the development of a large photostrain in polycrystalline barium titanate (BTO) comparable to the conventional electrostrain values
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