Role of domain wall conductivity in the stability of ferroelectric domains in ferroelectric single crystals

Charged domain walls (CDWs) in ferroelectrics display electrical conductivity several orders of magnitude higher than that of the bulk material, and they can be created/erased by an external electric field, which makes them promising for integration into nanoelectronic devices. However, a comprehensive understanding of the mechanisms governing the kinetics of CDWs and their stabilization is still lacking. Here, we conduct both experimental and theoretical investigations into the phenomenon of CDW stability and its correlation with their enhanced conductivity. We demonstrate that the conductivity along the domain walls facilitates the redistribution of mobile charge, resulting in a reduction of the depolarization field at the CDWs with respective stabilization of the domains.