Direct Observation of Atomic Arrangement around 90° Domain Wall in Lead Titanate Thin Films.

Abstract

AbstractThe growth mechanism of large-size domains in PbTiO3/SrTiO3 heteroepitaxial thin films was examined using annular bright field (ABF) – scanning transmission electron microscopy and geometric phase analysis (GPA). {101} domain walls surrounded 90° domains. The large 90° domain grows by the coalescence of the nano-size domains of less than 5 nm width. A strain map obtained from the GPA of ABF-STEM image showed that 90° domains interacted elastically and attractively with edge dislocations at PbTiO3/SrTiO3 interface through simple shear strain.