Optical control of elasticity in ferroelectrics

Controlling the elastic properties of materials is an issue that has been widely investigated because adapting available materials for incoming applications is required. Many efforts have been made in the last decade to make the elastic properties of ferroelectric materials adjustable for their use in high-technology products or processes. Additionally, in this new era of real-time wireless control, wireless devices are expected to replace traditional wired ones. However, there is no published research on visible-light wireless control of the elastic properties of ferroelectric materials. Here, we present the absolute proof the elasticity in polycrystalline BaTiO3 can be reversibly switched and linearly tuned with visible light. Thermal effects are definitively isolated so that the photo-induced phenomenon is unequivocally revealed. The light-induced change of Young’s modulus is originated by the increased screening of the charged domain walls under illumination. These results provide a promising avenue to the development of a new generation of optically driven devices based on elastically photosensitive ferroelectric materials.