High Resolution Electromechanical Imaging of Ferroelectric Materials in a Liquid Environment by Piezoresponse Force Microscopy

Journal Article · Sun Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 2006 · Physical Review Letters

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.96.237602· OSTI ID:1001698

Rodriguez, Brian J ^[1]; Jesse, Stephen ^[1]; Baddorf, Arthur P ^[1]; Kalinin, Sergei V ^[1]

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1. ORNL

High-resolution imaging of ferroelectric materials using piezoresponse force microscopy (PFM) is demonstrated in an aqueous environment. The elimination of both long-range electrostatic forces and capillary interactions results in a localization of the ac field to the tip-surface junction and allows the tip-surface contact area to be controlled. This approach results in spatial resolutions approaching the limit of the intrinsic domain-wall width. Imaging at frequencies corresponding to high-order cantilever resonances minimizes the viscous damping and added mass effects on cantilever dynamics and allows sensitivities comparable to ambient conditions. PFM in liquids will provide novel opportunities for high-resolution studies of ferroelectric materials, imaging of soft polymer materials, and imaging of biological systems in physiological environments on, ultimately, the molecular level.

• Research Organization: Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL)
• Sponsoring Organization: ORNL LDRD Seed-Money
• DOE Contract Number: AC05-00OR22725
• OSTI ID: 1001698
• Journal Information: Physical Review Letters, Journal Name: Physical Review Letters Journal Issue: 23 Vol. 96; ISSN 1079-7114; ISSN 0031-9007
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE
DAMPING
ELECTROSTATICS
FERROELECTRIC MATERIALS
HYDRODYNAMIC MASS EFFECT
MICROSCOPY
PERFORMANCE
SPATIAL RESOLUTION