Fast molecular-dynamics simulation for ferroelectric thin-film capacitors using a first-principles effective Hamiltonian

A newly developed fast molecular dynamics method is applied to BaTiO₃ ferroelectric thin-film capacitors with short-circuited electrodes or under applied voltage. The molecular dynamics simulations based on a first-principles effective Hamiltonian clarify that dead layers (or passive layers) between ferroelectrics and electrodes markedly affect the properties of capacitors, and predict that the system is unable to hop between a uniformly polarized ferroelectric structure and a striped ferroelectric domain structure at low temperatures. Simulations of hysteresis loops of thin-film capacitors are also performed, and their dependence on film thickness, epitaxial constraints, and electrodes are discussed.