  Formation of polar nano regions through solid-solution additions are known to
enhance significantly the functional properties of ferroelectric materials.
Despite considerable progress in characterizing the microscopic behavior of
polar nano regions, understanding their real-space atomic structure and
dynamics of formation remains a considerable challenge. Here, using the method
of dynamic pair distribution function, we provide direct insights into the role
of solid-solution additions towards the stabilization of polar nano regions in
the Pb-free ferroelectric of Ba(Zr,Ti)O3. It is shown that for an optimum level
of substitution of Ti by larger Zr ions, the dynamics of atomic displacements
for ferroelectric polarization are slowed sufficiently, which leads to
increased local correlation among dipoles below THz frequencies. The dynamic
pair distribution function technique demonstrates unique capability to obtain
insights into locally correlated atomic dynamics in disordered materials,
including new Pb-free ferroelectrics, which is necessary to understand and
control their functional properties.
