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Mn-atomic-layered antiphase boundary enhanced ferroelectricity in KNN-based lead-free films

Author

Listed:
  • Liqiang Xu

    (Anhui University)

  • Zhengyang Kong

    (Anhui University)

  • Beibei Zhu

    (Anhui University)

  • Xu Wang

    (Anhui University)

  • Kun Han

    (Anhui University)

  • Pingfan Chen

    (Anhui University)

  • Chao Li

    (Xi’an Jiaotong University)

  • Wenbin Wu

    (Anhui University
    Chinese Academy of Sciences
    University of Science and Technology of China)

  • Fang-Zhou Yao

    (Wuzhen Laboratory)

  • Ke Wang

    (Wuzhen Laboratory
    Tsinghua University)

  • Zhen Huang

    (Anhui University)

  • Feng Chen

    (Chinese Academy of Sciences)

Abstract

One preferred lead-free ferroelectric, (K,Na)NbO3, offers prominent features of environmentally benign and excellent piezoelectricity, but suffers from poor ferroelectricity. Mn-doping has improved its electrical properties, yet its site occupancy remained unclear. In this study, Mn-atomic-layered antiphase boundaries were created in (K,Na)NbO3-based films, revealing Mn occupying the A-site position. These boundaries stabilized ferroelectricity in these (K,Na)NbO3-based films with a large twice remnant polarization (~72.5 μC/cm2) across a wide frequency range (20 Hz−10 kHz). High-resolution imaging shows densely arranged antiphase boundaries are grown along three crystal axes. These boundaries are Mn-atomic-enriched at a nanoscale width of a single unit cell, equilibrating the interfacial charges and clamp the interfacial strain, resulting in the highly squared hysteresis loops and high Curie temperature of ~400 °C in the films. Our results may provide a paradigm for designing high-performance lead-free ferroelectric films, unleashing their application potential for expelling lead-containing counterparts.

Suggested Citation

  • Liqiang Xu & Zhengyang Kong & Beibei Zhu & Xu Wang & Kun Han & Pingfan Chen & Chao Li & Wenbin Wu & Fang-Zhou Yao & Ke Wang & Zhen Huang & Feng Chen, 2025. "Mn-atomic-layered antiphase boundary enhanced ferroelectricity in KNN-based lead-free films," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 16(1), pages 1-9, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:16:y:2025:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-025-61170-w
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-025-61170-w
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