Polarization switching in nanoscale ferroelectrics

The polarization switching kinetics of ferroelectric crystals and the transition between homogeneous and domain switching in the nanoscale ferroelectric films are considered. Homogeneous switching according to the Ginzburg-Landau-Devonshire (LGD) theory is possible only in two-dimensional ferroelectrics. A review of the experimental results for two-dimensional films of a ferroelectric polymer, barium titanate nanofilms, and hafnium oxide-based films is given. For ultrathin polymer films, the results are confirmed by first-principle calculations. Fitting of the transition region from homogeneous to domain switching by sigmoidal Boltzmann functions is carried out.