Giant polarization in super-tetragonal thin films through interphase strain

An epitaxial route to strain Strain can have a dramatic effect on the properties of materials. Zhanget al.introduced a large strain in the material PbTiO3by growing it epitaxially in a composite with PbO. On the boundaries between the two materials, their normally different lattice constants were matched, giving rise to the strain. As a consequence, the films exhibited a very large electric polarization even in the absence of an electric field. The method may be applicable to generating other functional materials. Scence, this issue p. 494