Fig. 1: Strategy for bidirectional modulation of ferroelectric polarization.
From: Reversible flexoelectric domain engineering at the nanoscale in van der Waals ferroelectrics
a, b Schematic diagrams of the tip-induced flexoelectric control in conventional bulk ferroelectrics and ultrathin ferroelectrics. The red and blue arrows in the bulk ferroelectrics indicate the upward and downward polarizations, respectively. The inset shows the spatial distribution of the strain gradients induced by the hard contact in the bulk material. c Cross-sectional view of the tip-induced soft deformation in ultrathin ferroelectrics. Arrows indicate the directions of curvatures. d The corresponding spatial distribution of the strain gradients for the soft deformation in (c). Arrows indicate the directions of the strain gradients.
