Non-Kolmogorov−Avrami−Ishibashi Switching Dynamics in Nanoscale Ferroelectric Capacitors

Switching dynamics of nanoscale ferroelectric capacitors with a radius of 35 nm were investigated using piezoresponse force microscopy. Polarization switching starts with only one nucleation event occurring only at the predetermined places. The switching dynamics of nanoscale capacitors did not follow the classical Kolmogorov-Avrami-Ishibashi model. On the basis of the consideration of two separate (nucleation and growth) steps within a nonstatistical finite system, we have proposed a model which is in good agreement with the experimental results.