Laser floating zone growth of improper geometric ferroelectric GdInO₃ single crystals with Z₆ topological defects

Yanbin Li^ab, Yazhong Wang^b, Wenjie Tan^a, Wenbo Wang^b, Junjie Zhang^c,Jae Wook Kim^b, Sang-Wook Cheong*^b and Xutang Tao*^a

J. Mater. Chem. C, 2018, 6, 7024

Abstract

We report the first single crystal growth of GdInO₃ using a laser floating zone furnace. The crystals were studied using single crystal/powder X-ray diffraction, magnetic susceptibility, piezoresponse force microscopy, and polarization switching techniques. The successful growth of single crystal GdInO₃ will (i) promote deep understanding of this material, including the mechanism of geometric ferroelectricity and Z₆ vortex topological defects domain structures, and (ii) provide rich opportunities as a substrate for thin film growth, for example, for important ferroelectric and/or multiferroic materials.