Physics

Hysteresis

Electrode

Mathematics

Domain (mathematical analysis)

Psychotherapist

Ferromagnetism

Biology

Displacement (psychology)

Voltage source

Dielectric

Mathematical analysis

Voltage

Paleontology

Psychology

Materials science

Condensed matter physics

Context (archaeology)

Quantum mechanics

Negative impedance converter

Capacitance

Optoelectronics

Curie temperature

Ferroelectricity

Journal of Applied Physics

In a heterogeneous system, ferroelectric materials can exhibit negative capacitance (NC) behavior given that the overall capacitance of the system remains positive. Such NC effects may lead to differential amplification in local potential and can provide an enhanced charge and capacitance response for the whole system compared to their constituents. Such intriguing implications of NC phenomena have prompted the design and exploration of many ferroelectric-based electronic devices to not only achieve an improved performance but potentially also overcome some fundamental limits of standard transistors. However, the microscopic physical origin as well as the true nature of the NC effect, and direct experimental evidence remain elusive and debatable. To that end, in this article, we provide a comprehensive theoretical perspective on the current understanding of the underlying physical mechanism of the NC effect in the ferroelectric material. Based upon the fundamental physics of ferroelectric material, we discuss different assumptions, conditions, and distinct features of the quasi-static NC effect in the single-domain and multi-domain scenarios. While the quasi-static and hysteresis-free NC effect was initially propounded in the context of a single-domain scenario, we highlight that similar effects can be observed in multi-domain FEs with soft domain-wall (DW) displacement. Furthermore, to obtain the soft-DW, the gradient energy coefficient of the FE material is required to be higher as well as the ferroelectric thickness is required to be lower than some critical values. If those requirements are not met, then the DW becomes hard and their displacement would lead to hysteretic NC effects, which are adiabatically irreversible. In addition to the quasi-static NC, we discuss different mechanisms that can potentially lead to the transient NC effects. Furthermore, we discuss different existing experimental results by correlating their distinct features with different types of NC attributes and provide guidelines for new experiments that can potentially provide new insights on unveiling the real origin of NC phenomena.

Negative capacitance effects in ferroelectric heterostructures: A theoretical perspective