Imaging of nanoscale polar textures in quantum paraelectric SrTiO 3

TL;DR - Cryogenic scanning transmission electron microscopy reveals temperature-dependent polar nanodomains in quantum-paraelectric SrTiO₃. The findings connect its macroscopic quantum paraelectricity to nanoscale ordering and disordering.

• Periodic polar nanodomains form below 105 K.
• The domains fragment below 40 K.
• This low-temperature fragmentation links nanoscale polar disorder to quantum paraelectric behavior.