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  • Open Access

Defect-driven switchable polarization in SrTiO3

Wahib Aggoune1,2,* and Matthias Scheffler1

  • *Contact author: aggoune@fhi-berlin.mpg.de
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Phys. Rev. Materials 9, 114601 – Published 25 November, 2025

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1103/7sd9-6gll

Abstract

Perovskites with tunable and switchable polarization hold immense promise for unlocking novel functionalities. Using density-functional theory, we reveal that intrinsic defects can induce, enhance, and control polarization in nonferroelectric perovskites, with SrTiO3 as our model system. At high defect concentrations, these systems exhibit strong spontaneous polarization—comparable to that of conventional ferroelectrics. Crucially, this polarization is switchable, enabled by the inherent symmetry-equivalence of defect sites in SrTiO3. Strikingly, polarization switching not only reverses the polarization direction and modulates its magnitude but also modifies the spatial distribution of localized defect states. This dynamic behavior points to unprecedented responses to external stimuli, opening new avenues for defect-engineered materials design.

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Phys. Rev. Materials 9, 114601– Published 25 November, 2025
  • Received 2 June 2025
  • Revised 4 September 2025
  • Accepted 3 November 2025
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Published by the American Physical Society under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International license. Further distribution of this work must maintain attribution to the author(s) and the published article's title, journal citation, and DOI. Open access publication funded by Max Planck Society.

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