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Deterministic 1D Domain Wall Motion with Nucleation-Free Nature in Sliding Ferroelectric Switching

Jiangang Chen1,*, Changming Ke2,3,*, Renji Bian1,*, Er Pan1,*, Peter Kun4, Zefen Li1, Biao Dong1,5, Fan Yang1, Qing Liu1 et al.

Levente Tapaszto4, Xiao Luo1,†, Shi Liu2,3,‡, and Fucai Liu1,6,§

  • *These authors contributed equally to this work.
  • †Contact author: luox@uestc.edu.cn
  • ‡Contact author: liushi@westlake.edu.cn
  • §Contact author: fucailiu@uestc.edu.cn
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Phys. Rev. X 16, 011066 – Published 26 March, 2026

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1103/q624-x397

Abstract

Inhomogeneous domain nucleation and stochastic motion of the domain wall (DW) during the polarization switching process in conventional ferroelectrics introduce a spectrum of intricate kinetic challenges for the reliable and precise manipulation of polarization states, a prerequisite for many ferroelectric implementations. Combining deep-learning-assisted molecular dynamics simulations, microscopic-scale in situ observations, and device-scale electrical measurements, it reveals that sliding ferroelectrics inherently circumvent these issues, with an intrinsic domain-nucleation-free polarization reversal. Using 3R−MoS2 as a model system, we demonstrate that DW motion occurs along a well-defined 1D pathway in a collective manner, without domain nucleation. Leveraging this predictable domain dynamics, we demonstrate deterministic multistate polarization switching, achieving remarkable precision and repeatability with a variation coefficient of less than 0.2%, 10 times improved over conventional ferroelectrics. This work provides valuable insights into the unique kinetics of DW motion in sliding ferroelectrics and offers opportunities for ferroelectric multistate devices with ultraprecision control.

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Popular Summary

In conventional ferroelectrics, stochastic domain nucleation and complex domain wall dynamics hinder applications that require reliable and precise polarization-state control. We develop rigorous theory and provide comprehensive experimental evidence to demonstrate that sliding ferroelectrics exhibit a domain nucleation-free nature, where polarization reversal is governed exclusively by domain wall motion along a well-defined 1D pathway. Our experimental results demonstrate multistate polarization modulation with a coefficient of variation below 0.2%, representing a tenfold improvement over conventional ferroelectrics. Our findings establish a distinct switching paradigm in sliding ferroelectrics and highlight their potential for ultrareliable neuromorphic and multibit memory devices.

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Phys. Rev. X 16, 011066– Published 26 March, 2026
  • Received 21 May 2025
  • Accepted 17 February 2026
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