Nanoscale piezoelectric response across a single antiparallel ferroelectric domain wall

David A. Scrymgeour, Venkatraman Gopalan

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

108 Scopus citations

Abstract

Experiments and three-dimensional numerical modeling of nanoscale piezoelectric response across a single domain wall in ferroelectric lithium niobate are presented. Surprising asymmetry in the local electromechanical response across a single antiparallel ferroelectric domain wall is reported. Piezoelectric force microscopy is used to investigate both the in-plane and out-of- plane electromechanical signals around domain walls in congruent and near-stoichiometric lithium niobate. The observed asymmetry is shown to have a strong correlation to crystal stoichiometry, suggesting defect-domain-wall interactions. A defect-dipole model is proposed. The finite-element method is used to simulate the electromechanical processes at the wall and reconstruct the images. For the near-stoichiometric composition, good agreement is found in both form and magnitude. Some discrepancy remains between the experimental and modeling widths of the imaged effects across a wall. This is analyzed from the perspective of possible electrostatic contributions to the imaging process, as well as local changes in the material properties in the vicinity of the wall.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Article number024103
JournalPhysical Review B - Condensed Matter and Materials Physics
Volume72
Issue number2
DOIs
StatePublished - Jul 1 2005

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • Electronic, Optical and Magnetic Materials
  • Condensed Matter Physics

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