Observation of Ring Shaped Domain Patterns Using a Scanning Nonlinear Dielectric Microscopy

Abstract

Unexpected ring shaped domain patterns were occasionally observed when ferroelectric nano-domain dots are formed by a voltage pulse application to the ferroelectric thin film using an electro conductive tip. In this study, we observed a real-time polarization reversal to understand such a variety of nano-domain formation processes. As a result, the ring shaped domain patterns were found to be related to the anti-parallel polarization reversal. Furthermore, by comparing the results of the congruent lithium tantalate to that of stoichiometric lithium tantalate, the mechanism of anti-parallel polarization reversal was suggested to link to the lattice vacancy of a specimen.

Keywords:

• Scanning nonlinear dielectric microscopy
• ring shaped domain
• real-time observation
• anti-parallel polarization reversal