Direct observation of ferroelectric domain switching in varying electric field regimes using in situ TEM

Five types of ferroelectric domain walls (DWs) are present in Bi4Ti3O12 single crystals (Ye et al., 2015). Here their motion was investigated in situ using transmission electron microscopy and optical microscopy. The motion of P (a)-90° DWs, P (a)-180° DWs and P (c)-180° DWs was observed through electron beam poling in a transmission electron microscope. The growth of new P s(a)-180° nanodomains was frequently seen and they tended to nucleate at preexisting P s(a)-90° DWs. Irregularly curved P (c)-180° DWs exhibit the highest mobility, while migration over a short range occurs occasionally for faceted P s(a)-90° DWs. In addition, the motion of P s(a)-90° DWs and the growth/annihilation of new needle-like P s(a)-90° domains in a 20 µm-thick crystal were observed under an external electric field on an optical microscope. Most of the new needle-like P s(a)-90° domains nucleate at preexisting P s(a)-90° DWs and the former are much smaller than the latter. This is very similar to the situation for P s(a)-180° domain switching induced by electron beam poling in a transmission electron microscope. Our observations suggest the energy hierarchy for different domains of P s(c)-180° ≤ P s(a)-180° ≤ P s(a)-90° ≤ new needle-like P s(a)-90° in ferroelectric Bi4Ti3O12.

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On the effects of the heat generated during an electric field-induced ferroelectric domain switching

International Journal of Solids and Structures ◽

10.1016/s0020-7683(00)00091-3 ◽

2001 ◽

Vol 38 (8) ◽

pp. 1311-1325 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Sang-Joo Kim ◽

Sunggi Kim

Keyword(s):

Electric Field ◽

Domain Switching ◽

Ferroelectric Domain

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Direct Observation of the Effects of Alloying Additions on Transformation Mechanisms in Emerging Steel Alloys with In-Situ TEM

Microscopy and Microanalysis ◽

10.1017/s1431927609094136 ◽

2009 ◽

Vol 15 (S2) ◽

pp. 704-705

Author(s):

M Hartshorne ◽

E Toby ◽

P Uranga ◽

M Schmidt ◽

P Novotny ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Direct Observation ◽

In Situ Tem ◽

Steel Alloys ◽

Alloying Additions ◽

Transformation Mechanisms

Extended abstract of a paper presented at Microscopy and Microanalysis 2009 in Richmond, Virginia, USA, July 26 – July 30, 2009

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In-Situ TEM Observation of Physical Degradation of AlGaN/GaN Devices under Applied Electric Field

Microscopy and Microanalysis ◽

10.1017/s143192761201121x ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 18 (S2) ◽

pp. 1872-1873 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

H. Ghassemi ◽

A. Lang ◽

M. Taheri

Keyword(s):

Electric Field ◽

Applied Electric Field ◽

In Situ Tem ◽

Physical Degradation

Extended abstract of a paper presented at Microscopy and Microanalysis 2012 in Phoenix, Arizona, USA, July 29 – August 2, 2012.

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Displacement Charge Patterns and Ferroelectric Domain Wall Dynamics Studied by In-Situ Tem

MRS Proceedings ◽

10.1557/proc-596-161 ◽

1999 ◽

Vol 596 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

A. Krishnan ◽

M. M. J. Treacy ◽

M. E. Bisher ◽

P. Chandra ◽

P. B. Littlewood

Keyword(s):

Electric Fields ◽

Domain Walls ◽

Energy State ◽

Ferroelectric Domain ◽

Potassium Niobate ◽

In Situ Tem ◽

Domain Wall Dynamics ◽

Transmission Electron ◽

Energy Domain

AbstractWe have observed the growth of domains in ferroelectric barium titanate and potassium niobate using a transmission electron microscope. When domains move in response to electric fields we see a scaling effect where the fine scale domain structure is activated first, followed by larger length-scale patterns. Curvature and tilting of domain walls leads to local uncompensated displacement charge and external fields can interact with these charged walls. In this paper, we posit that the presence of displacement charge on domain walls is important for polarization switching. Charge-neutral domain configurations are in a lower energy state and are harder to switch. We argue that the number of charge-neutral, low energy domain configurations can increase with time. This mechanism provides an intrinsic contribution to ferroelectric fatigue.

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