Atomic-scale imaging of polarization switching in an (anti-)ferroelectric memory material: Zirconia (ZrO2)

Direct, atomic-scale visualization of polarization switching in a functional, polycrystalline, binary oxide via insitu high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM) biasing is reported for the first time. Antiferroelectric (AFE) ZrO 2 was used as the model system, which is important for commercial DRAMs and as emerging NVMs (through work-function engineering). We observed (1) clear shifting and coalescing of domains within a single grain, and (2) dramatic changes of the atomic arrangements and crystalline phases-both at voltages above the critical voltage measured for AFE switching. Similar synergistic in-situ structural-electrical characterization can pave the way to understand and engineer microscopic mechanisms for retention, fatigue, variability, sub-coercive switching and analog states in ferroelectric and AFE-based memory devices.