Dynamic Stabilization of Metastable States in Triple-Well Ferroelectric Sn P S.

Polarization dynamics in ferroelectric materials is governed by the effective potential energy landscape of the order parameter. The unique aspect of ferroelectrics compared to many other transitions is the possibility of more than two potential wells, leading to complicated energy landscapes with new fundamental and functional properties. Here, direct dynamic evidence is revealed of a triple-well potential in the metal thiophosphate Sn P S compound using multivariate scanning probe microscopy combined with theoretical simulations.