Domain shapes in bulk uniaxial ferroelectrics

Abstract

We considered the experimentally observed variety of domain shapes in crystals of lithium niobate and lithium tantalate family. The shapes were classified, and their formation was discussed in terms of the universal kinetic approach to the domain growth using step generation and kink motion processes basing on analogy with crystal growth. The screening retardation resulting in step generation at the vertices of the polygonal domains under the action of the spatially nonuniform local electric field was considered. The domain shape field dependence was explained by simulated field distribution and difference between the threshold fields for step generation and kink motion.

Keywords:

• Lithium niobate
• lithium tantalate
• polygonal domains
• screening of depolarization field
• screening retardation
• step generation
• kink motion
• domain imaging
• kinetic approach

Acknowledgment

The equipment of Ural Center for Shared Use “Modern Nanotechnology” Ural Federal University was used.

Additional information

Funding

The research was supported by the Russian Science Foundation (Grant No. 19-12-00210).