Investigation of ferroelectric domains and structural twins in barium titanate crystal

Abstract

The Ferroelectric domain patterns and the {111} twin boundaries are frequently observed in the BaTiO₃ ceramics. The ferroelectric domain structures in BaTiO₃ single crystal were investigated by a conventional and a synchrotron white beam X-ray topographies. The domain structure of {111} twinned crystal sample was also observed under a polarizing microscope and under a TEM. The relation between the {111} twin and the ferroelectric domain structure was verified by insitu observation of the behaviors of 90° domains during the phase transitions. It is observed that the 90° ferroelectric domain boundaries around the {111} twin boundary which was produced during the crystal growth obey the symmetry relation of the {111} twinning and that they meet each other coherently at the same position of the {111} twin boundary.

Key Words:

• keywords:
• Barium titanate
• ferroelectric domain
• twin