Abstract
We have studied experimentally the interaction of isolated needle-like domains created in an array via local switching using a biased scanning probe microscope (SPM) tip and visualized via piezoelectric force microscopy (PFM) at the non-polar cuts of MgO-doped lithium niobate (MgOLN) crystals. It has been found that the domain interaction leads to the intermittent quasiperiodic and chaotic behavior of the domain length in the array in a manner similar to that of polar cuts, but with greater spacing between the points of bias application and voltage amplitudes. It has also been found that the polarization reversal at the non-polar cuts and domain interaction significantly depend on humidity. The spatial distribution of the surface potential measured by Kelvin probe force microscopy in the vicinity of the charged domain walls revealed the decrease of the domain length as a result of the partial backswitching after pulse termination. The phase diagram of switching behavior as a function of tip voltage and spacing between the points of bias application has been plotted. The obtained results provide new insight into the problem of the domain interaction during forward growth and can provide a basis for useful application in nanodomain engineering and development of non-linear optical frequency converters, data storage, and computing devices.
Highlights
Local polarization switching via the biased conductive tip of a scanning probe microscope (SPM)has been studied since the first experimental realization of piezoresponse force microscopy (PFM) [1,2].Further, the method has been applied to various uniform and non-uniform ferroelectric materials, such as the polar cuts of lithium niobate (LN), lithium tantalate [3,4,5], and barium titanate [6] crystals, lead zirconate titanate (PZT) thin films [7,8], and bulk ferroelectric ceramics [9]
We recently showed that the needle-like domains formed in the surface layer of LN crystals under the action of the biased SPM tip can be visualized by PFM with high spatial resolution [16,17]
We have experimentally studied the length change of interacting needle-like domains created by a biased SPM tip and visualized by PFM at the non-polar cut of MgO-doped lithium niobate (MgOLN) crystals
Summary
The method has been applied to various uniform and non-uniform ferroelectric materials, such as the polar cuts of lithium niobate (LN), lithium tantalate [3,4,5], and barium titanate [6] crystals, lead zirconate titanate (PZT) thin films [7,8], and bulk ferroelectric ceramics [9]. The method has been demonstrated as a powerful tool for analyzing the domain growth in the presence of defects and in the non-uniform ferroelectrics [10]. Polarization switching in a model uniaxial LN single crystal with a comparatively simple domain structure opens an opportunity for investigation of the ferroelectric domain evolution at the nanoscale. Several important effects have been studied recently, such as (1) domain size dependence on the duration and amplitude of the switching pulses [3];. A topic of special interest is the electrostatic interaction of isolated domains situated in arrays and matrixes, because this effect determines the shape of growing domains
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
