Stabilization and thickness dependence of depletion charge induced domains in ferroelectric nano capacitors

We analyze the domain structures as well as the phase transition temperatures in films with depletion charges. Due to depletion charges, saw-tooth like domain structures can develop spanning the entire film thickness in films with perfect electrode screening, i. e., ideal electrodes if the film is above a critical thickness. Transition temperature in films with dead layers does not depend nearly at all on the depletion charge density unless it is very high (>;10²⁶ ionized impurities/m³). Relatively thick films (>;8 nm in this work) with dead layers that have very high depletion charge densities have transition temperatures similar to those with the same charge density but with ideal electrodes, making us conclude that thick films with high depletion charge densities will not feel the dead layer effects. The results are provided for (001) BaTiO₃ films grown on (001) SrTiO₃ substrates with pseudomorphic top and bottom metallic electrodes.