Potential Images of Ferroelectric Domain Structures Formed by Electron Beam in Lithium Niobate Crystals

Journal Article · Sat Sep 15 00:00:00 EDT 2018 · Physics of the Solid State

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1134/S1063783418090159· OSTI ID:22771027

Kokhanchik, L. S., E-mail: [e-mail] ^[1]

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1. Russian Academy of Science, Institute of Problems of Microelectronic Technology and High Purity Materials (Russian Federation)

Ferroelectric domain structures formed by an electron beam in lithium niobate crystals are studied using low-voltage SEM microscopy. The structures are formed in crystals with different conductivity, including samples with high-resistance congruent composition (CLN) and samples with conductivity increased by reductive annealing (RLN). The potential nature of the contrast of the domain structures observed in the secondary electron mode depending on the conductivity of the samples and the direction of spontaneous polarization of the domains is analyzed. It is assumed that the domain contrast in CLN crystals is associated with long-lived charges localized near domain walls and in the irradiated areas. The recorded domain structures in the CLN crystals are visualized on polar and nonpolar cuts. In the RLN crystals with improved conductivity compared to CLN, the potential contrast of the periodic domain structures is found only on the polar cuts, where vector P{sub s} of the domains is perpendicular to the irradiated surface. This contrast is likely because the field of the spontaneous electric polarization charges influences the secondary electrons.

• OSTI ID: 22771027
• Journal Information: Physics of the Solid State, Vol. 60, Issue 9; Other Information: Copyright (c) 2018 Pleiades Publishing, Ltd.; Country of input: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA); ISSN 1063-7834
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS
SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND SUPERFLUIDITY
ANNEALING
COMPARATIVE EVALUATIONS
CRYSTALS
DOMAIN STRUCTURE
ELECTRIC POTENTIAL
ELECTRON BEAMS
FERROELECTRIC MATERIALS
IRRADIATION
LITHIUM COMPOUNDS
NIOBATES
PERIODICITY
PHYSICAL RADIATION EFFECTS
POLARIZATION
SCANNING ELECTRON MICROSCOPY
SURFACES