Topological vortex induced large recoverable electrostrain with high temperature-stability in ferroelectric nano-dots

Here we report by phase field simulations that in ferroelectric nanodots the single domain generated from the vortex under external electric field will transform back to the vortex structure after removal of the field, which could offer large recoverable electrostrain during the process. Moreover, it is found that the recoverable electrostrain maintains a large value and could exist over a wide temperature range. The good recoverability of the vortex structure and electrostrain in the ferroelectric nanodots is found to be mainly ascribed to the dipole-dipole interaction energy and the elastic interaction energy in the system. This work may shed light on the development of miniaturized actuators in Micro-Electro-Mechanical System (MEMS) or Nano-Electromechanical System (NEMS).