Photo-assisted non-destructive readout of thin-film ferroelectric memories

By combining piezoelectric force microscopy with scanning surface potential microscopy and introducing a laser beam, we have demonstrated that the surface potential contrast of BiFeO₃ films can be recovered by light illumination. The recovering mechanism is understood based on the redistribution of the photo-induced charges driven by the internal electric field.Furthermore, we have created a 12-cell memory pattern based on a BiFeO₃ film to show the feasibility of such photo-assisted non-volatile and non-destructive readout of the ferroelectric memory.