Self-organized domain formation by moving the biased SPM tip

Abstract

We studied the domain structure self-organization at non-polar cuts of congruent lithium niobate under the action of biased moving scanning probe microscopy (SPM) tip. Analysis of the obtained domain structures revealed several types of switching: doubling, quadrupling, and chaotic. The period of created domains was shown to be similar in different non-polar cuts. The obtained results give further insight into domain interaction and domain structure self-organization.

Keywords:

• domain structure
• self-organization
• piezoelectric force microscopy
• non-polar cut
• lithium niobate
• local switching

Acknowledgments

The equipment of the Ural Center for Shared Use “Modern Nanotechnology” UrFU was used. The research was made possible by Russian Science Foundation (project No. 14-12-00826).