Ferroelectricity in van der Waals multilayers via interfacial polarization engineering
Abstract We report a general mechanism for building ferroelectricity in prevailing van der Waals (vdW) multilayers via interfacial engineering. Using sandwiched graphene/boron nitride (BN)/graphene multilayers as an exemplary system, we show that considerable electric polarization can arise at graph...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Nature Portfolio
2025-02-01
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| Series: | npj 2D Materials and Applications |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41699-025-00531-x |
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| author | Xiaokai Chen Xiaoyu Xuan Wanlin Guo Zhuhua Zhang |
| author_facet | Xiaokai Chen Xiaoyu Xuan Wanlin Guo Zhuhua Zhang |
| author_sort | Xiaokai Chen |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract We report a general mechanism for building ferroelectricity in prevailing van der Waals (vdW) multilayers via interfacial engineering. Using sandwiched graphene/boron nitride (BN)/graphene multilayers as an exemplary system, we show that considerable electric polarization can arise at graphene/BN interfaces where charge redistribution enhances intralayer electric dipoles. Moreover, the electric polarization between BN layers is concertedly enhanced due to interlayer compression driven by an extraordinary cross-layer electrostatic attraction. Then, the interfacial polarization and enhanced interlayer polarization can serve as two elements for building robust ferroelectrics from vdW multilayers with cumulative, thickness-controllable polarization. We demonstrate this mechanism in generating an electric polarization of 1.0 pC/m in a nominally nonpolar BN monolayer sandwiched between graphene layers, and up to 4.2 pC/m in a sandwiched BN quadrilayer. These results underscore the previously unnoticed role of unavoidable hetero-interfaces in contributing to the observed ferroelectricity in diverse vdW devices. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-dfb1f5c41c2148309200b215a15935e9 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2397-7132 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-02-01 |
| publisher | Nature Portfolio |
| record_format | Article |
| series | npj 2D Materials and Applications |
| spelling | doaj-art-dfb1f5c41c2148309200b215a15935e92025-02-09T12:39:29ZengNature Portfolionpj 2D Materials and Applications2397-71322025-02-01911810.1038/s41699-025-00531-xFerroelectricity in van der Waals multilayers via interfacial polarization engineeringXiaokai Chen0Xiaoyu Xuan1Wanlin Guo2Zhuhua Zhang3State Key Laboratory of Mechanics and Control for Aerospace Structures, Key Laboratory for Intelligent Nano Materials and Devices of Ministry of Education, and Institute for Frontier Science, Nanjing University of Aeronautics and AstronauticsState Key Laboratory of Mechanics and Control for Aerospace Structures, Key Laboratory for Intelligent Nano Materials and Devices of Ministry of Education, and Institute for Frontier Science, Nanjing University of Aeronautics and AstronauticsState Key Laboratory of Mechanics and Control for Aerospace Structures, Key Laboratory for Intelligent Nano Materials and Devices of Ministry of Education, and Institute for Frontier Science, Nanjing University of Aeronautics and AstronauticsState Key Laboratory of Mechanics and Control for Aerospace Structures, Key Laboratory for Intelligent Nano Materials and Devices of Ministry of Education, and Institute for Frontier Science, Nanjing University of Aeronautics and AstronauticsAbstract We report a general mechanism for building ferroelectricity in prevailing van der Waals (vdW) multilayers via interfacial engineering. Using sandwiched graphene/boron nitride (BN)/graphene multilayers as an exemplary system, we show that considerable electric polarization can arise at graphene/BN interfaces where charge redistribution enhances intralayer electric dipoles. Moreover, the electric polarization between BN layers is concertedly enhanced due to interlayer compression driven by an extraordinary cross-layer electrostatic attraction. Then, the interfacial polarization and enhanced interlayer polarization can serve as two elements for building robust ferroelectrics from vdW multilayers with cumulative, thickness-controllable polarization. We demonstrate this mechanism in generating an electric polarization of 1.0 pC/m in a nominally nonpolar BN monolayer sandwiched between graphene layers, and up to 4.2 pC/m in a sandwiched BN quadrilayer. These results underscore the previously unnoticed role of unavoidable hetero-interfaces in contributing to the observed ferroelectricity in diverse vdW devices.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41699-025-00531-x |
| spellingShingle | Xiaokai Chen Xiaoyu Xuan Wanlin Guo Zhuhua Zhang Ferroelectricity in van der Waals multilayers via interfacial polarization engineering npj 2D Materials and Applications |
| title | Ferroelectricity in van der Waals multilayers via interfacial polarization engineering |
| title_full | Ferroelectricity in van der Waals multilayers via interfacial polarization engineering |
| title_fullStr | Ferroelectricity in van der Waals multilayers via interfacial polarization engineering |
| title_full_unstemmed | Ferroelectricity in van der Waals multilayers via interfacial polarization engineering |
| title_short | Ferroelectricity in van der Waals multilayers via interfacial polarization engineering |
| title_sort | ferroelectricity in van der waals multilayers via interfacial polarization engineering |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41699-025-00531-x |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT xiaokaichen ferroelectricityinvanderwaalsmultilayersviainterfacialpolarizationengineering AT xiaoyuxuan ferroelectricityinvanderwaalsmultilayersviainterfacialpolarizationengineering AT wanlinguo ferroelectricityinvanderwaalsmultilayersviainterfacialpolarizationengineering AT zhuhuazhang ferroelectricityinvanderwaalsmultilayersviainterfacialpolarizationengineering |