Blockage of domain growth by nanoscale heterogeneities in a relaxor ferroelectric Sr{sub 0.61}Ba{sub 0.39}Nb{sub 2}O{sub 6}
- Shubnikov Institute of Crystallography of the Russian Academy of Sciences, 119333 Moscow (Russian Federation)
The growth of localized subsurface domains in a relaxor ferroelectric Sr{sub 0.61}Ba{sub 0.39}Nb{sub 2}O{sub 6} is studied using the technique of piezoresponse force microscopy (PFM). Ferroelectric domains are created by applying moderate voltages of 10–50 V to the conductive tip of a scanning force microscope brought into contact with a nonpolar face of a Sr{sub 0.61}Ba{sub 0.39}Nb{sub 2}O{sub 6} crystal. PFM images of written domains are acquired and analyzed quantitatively to determine the domain length along the polar axis and its width in the transverse direction. The dependences of domain sizes on the applied voltage, pulse duration, and the time passed after completion of the voltage pulse are reported and analyzed theoretically. It is shown that the observed kinetics of domain growth can be explained by the creep of domain boundaries occurring in the presence of random electric fields inherent in Sr{sub 0.61}Ba{sub 0.39}Nb{sub 2}O{sub 6}. The comparison of measured domain sizes with their equilibrium values calculated with the aid of the thermodynamic theory demonstrates that the growth of subsurface domains in Sr{sub 0.61}Ba{sub 0.39}Nb{sub 2}O{sub 6} is blocked by nanoscale heterogeneities characteristic of this relaxor ferroelectric. These results may have important implications for the development of nonlinear optical devices based on nanoheterogeneous ferroelectrics.
- OSTI ID:
- 22412955
- Journal Information:
- Journal of Applied Physics, Vol. 117, Issue 3; Other Information: (c) 2015 AIP Publishing LLC; Country of input: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA); ISSN 0021-8979
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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