Superdomain structure in PbTiO3/SrTiO3 superlattices under tensile strain

Ferroelectric superlattices have recently emerged as the main platform for exploring novel ordered polar phases (e.g. domain supercrystals, polar vortices and skyrmion lattices), with interesting topologies and novel functionalities (e.g. negative capacitance). While state-of-the-art aberration corrected electron microscopy can provide useful information about the local polarization, much less is known about the response of these unusual polar structures to temperature and applied fields. We propose to use the scanning x-ray diffraction microscopy (SXDM) capability at ID01 to study the complex superdomain structure, its evolution under applied field, and phase transitions in PbTiO3/SrTiO3 superlattices under tensile strain.