Imaging Domain Walls in van der Waals Ferroelectrics Using Tip-Enhanced Second Harmonic Generation

Abstract

van der Waals ferroelectrics have captured significant interest for applications in novel memory and neuromorphic computing devices. Within these materials, interfaces between regions of different ferroelectric polarizations (i.e., domain walls) exhibit distinctive behaviors. Characterization of these behaviors remains a challenge, as domain wall thickness resides at the nanoscale. Using tip-enhanced second harmonic generation (TESHG), we demonstrate nanoscale imaging of domain walls in 2D ferroelectric α-In₂Se₃. With a narrow-band near-IR laser, we take advantage of high-wavelength, off-resonant signal enhancement to generate robust and reproducible TESHG. A 16 nm spatial resolution is achieved, and we identify spectral features suggesting that nonlocal effects from domain walls persist nanometers into adjacent domains.