DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2115703118. Sliding ferroelectricity in 2D van der Waals materials: Related physics and future opportunities

Sliding ferroelectricity in 2D van der Waals materials: Related physics and future opportunities

10.1073/pnas.2115703118

Crossref journal-article

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (341)

Abstract

Near the 100th anniversary of the discovery of ferroelectricity, so-called sliding ferroelectricity has been proposed and confirmed recently in a series of experiments that have stimulated remarkable interest. Such ferroelectricity exists widely and exists only in two-dimensional (2D) van der Waals stacked layers, where the vertical electric polarization is switched by in-plane interlayer sliding. Reciprocally, interlayer sliding and the “ripplocation” domain wall can be driven by an external vertical electric field. The unique combination of intralayer stiffness and interlayer slipperiness of 2D van der Waals layers greatly facilitates such switching while still maintaining environmental and mechanical robustness at ambient conditions. In this perspective, we discuss the progress and future opportunities in this behavior. The origin of such ferroelectricity as well as a general rule for judging its existence are summarized, where the vertical stacking sequence is crucial for its formation. This discovery broadens 2D ferroelectrics from very few material candidates to most of the known 2D materials. Their low switching barriers enable high-speed data writing with low energy cost. Related physics like Moiré ferroelectricity, the ferroelectric nonlinear anomalous Hall effect, and multiferroic coupling are discussed. For 2D valleytronics, nontrivial band topology and superconductivity, their possible couplings with sliding ferroelectricity via certain stacking or Moiré ferroelectricity also deserve interest. We provide critical reviews on the current challenges in this emerging area.

Bibliography

Wu, M., & Li, J. (2021). Sliding ferroelectricity in 2D van der Waals materials: Related physics and future opportunities. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 118(50).

Authors 2

Menghao Wu (first)
Ju Li (additional)

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Dates

Type	When
Created	3 years, 8 months ago (Dec. 3, 2021, 5:05 p.m.)
Deposited	3 years, 4 months ago (April 13, 2022, 8:03 a.m.)
Indexed	13 hours, 49 minutes ago (Aug. 24, 2025, 6:48 p.m.)
Issued	3 years, 8 months ago (Dec. 3, 2021)
Published	3 years, 8 months ago (Dec. 3, 2021)
Published Online	3 years, 8 months ago (Dec. 3, 2021)
Published Print	3 years, 8 months ago (Dec. 14, 2021)

Funders 2

National Natural Science Foundation of China 10.13039/501100001809
Region: Asia
gov (National government)
Labels11
1. Chinese National Science Foundation
2. Natural Science Foundation of China
3. National Science Foundation of China
4. NNSF of China
5. NSF of China
6. 国家自然科学基金委员会
7. National Nature Science Foundation of China
8. Guójiā Zìrán Kēxué Jījīn Wěiyuánhuì
9. NSFC
10. NNSF
11. NNSFC
Awards1
1. 22073034
National Science Foundation 10.13039/100000001
Region: Americas
gov (National government)
Labels4
1. U.S. National Science Foundation
2. NSF
3. US NSF
4. USA NSF
Awards1
1. DMR-1923976

BibTeX

@article{Wu_2021, title={Sliding ferroelectricity in 2D van der Waals materials: Related physics and future opportunities}, volume={118}, ISSN={1091-6490}, url={http://dx.doi.org/10.1073/pnas.2115703118}, DOI={10.1073/pnas.2115703118}, number={50}, journal={Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences}, publisher={Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences}, author={Wu, Menghao and Li, Ju}, year={2021}, month=dec }

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