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Electrically and mechanically driven rotation of polar spirals in a relaxor ferroelectric polymer

Authors :
Mengfan Guo
Erxiang Xu
Houbing Huang
Changqing Guo
Hetian Chen
Shulin Chen
Shan He
Le Zhou
Jing Ma
Zhonghui Shen
Ben Xu
Di Yi
Peng Gao
Ce-Wen Nan
Neil. D. Mathur
Yang Shen
Source :
Nature Communications, Vol 15, Iss 1, Pp 1-9 (2024)
Publication Year :
2024
Publisher :
Nature Portfolio, 2024.

Abstract

Abstract Topology created by quasi-continuous spatial variations of a local polarization direction represents an exotic state of matter, but field-driven manipulation has been hitherto limited to creation and destruction. Here we report that relatively small electric or mechanical fields can drive the non-volatile rotation of polar spirals in discretized microregions of the relaxor ferroelectric polymer poly(vinylidene fluoride-ran-trifluoroethylene). These polar spirals arise from the asymmetric Coulomb interaction between vertically aligned helical polymer chains, and can be rotated in-plane through various angles with robust retention. Given also that our manipulation of topological order can be detected via infrared absorption, our work suggests a new direction for the application of complex materials.

Subjects

Subjects :
Science

Details

Language :
English
ISSN :
20411723
Volume :
15
Issue :
1
Database :
Directory of Open Access Journals
Journal :
Nature Communications
Publication Type :
Academic Journal
Accession number :
edsdoj.896d3d3de51d4da4a6d5e6b17d44b57b
Document Type :
article
Full Text :
https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-023-44395-5