Perpendicular switching of polarization in layered ferroelectrics.

Ferroelectric materials exhibit a spontaneous electric polarization that can be reversed by an electric field 1 , a property central to non-volatile memories 2,3 , sensors 4 and actuators 5,6 .

Ferroelectric materials exhibit a spontaneous electric polarization that can be reversed by an electric field 1 , a property central to non-volatile memories 2,3 , sensors 4 and actuators 5,6 . In most conventional ferroelectrics, the polarization originates from a softening of…