We investigate nanoscale domain engineering via epitaxial coupling in a set
of SrRuO3/PbTiO3/SrRuO3 heterostructures epitaxially grown on
(110)o-oriented DyScO3 substrates. The SrRuO3 layer thickness is kept
at 55 unit cells, whereas the PbTiO3 layer is grown to thicknesses of 23, 45
and 90 unit cells. Through a combination of atomic force microscopy, x-ray
diffraction and high resolution scanning transmission electron microscopy
studies, we find that above a certain critical thickness of the ferroelectric
layer, the large structural distortions associated with the ferroelastic
domains propagate through the top SrRuO3 layer, locally modifying the
orientation of the orthorhombic SrRuO3 and creating a modulated structure
that extends beyond the ferroelectric layer boundaries.Comment: 19 pages, 6 figures, supplementary materials. arXiv admin note: text
overlap with arXiv:2304.0694