Abstract
The nanoscale domain structure and variation of local elasticity in lead-free piezoelectric ceramics were investigated using home-made piezoresponse force microscope (PFM) and low-frequency scanning probe acoustic microscope (SPAM) based on a commercial atomic force microscope. The static domain structure and domain dynamics during polarization reversal were studied by PFM, while SPAM investigations showed the elastic and subsurface ferroelectrics structures. PFM and SPAM provided powerful tools for measurements of the local electromechanical and elastic properties of lead-free piezoelectric ceramics.
Acknowledgements
This work is supported by Major national scientific research plan (973 plan) of China under Grant No. 2012CB933004, Innovative Research Groups of the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No. 51121064), National Key Development Program for Basic Research of China (Grant No. 2009CB623305), the Nanotechnology Project of Shanghai Science and Technology Committee (Grant No. 11nm0502800), and the Innovation Project of the Shanghai Institute of Ceramics (Y21ZC4110G).