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Domain structure and polarization reversal in ferroelectric lanthanum-modified lead titanate ceramics investigated by piezoresponse force microscopy

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Abstract

In this work, the ferroelectric domain structure of (Pb0.79La0.21)TiO3 transparent ceramics and its response to an applied electric field were investigated by piezoresponse force microscopy (PFM). A qualitative three-dimensional reconstruction of the domains by PFM measurements revealed that the domain structure consists in stripes in two size scales (micro and nanometer) separated by 90° domain walls coexisting with 180° domains. While the nanoscale 90° domains were found arranged in organized structures, (e.g., lamellas, herringbones, and other unusual configurations), the 180° domains form a “labyrinth” structure, typical of ferroelectrics with a degree of disorder. Local application of an electric field reveals different coercive voltages to reorient 180° and the two types of 90° domains and the appearance of a different nanoscale 90° domain structure after poling. While the labyrinth structure is destroyed with relative low voltages, the created 90° domains structure persists, avoiding the formation of a single-domain structure.

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Acknowledgements

The authors would like to acknowledge Mr. Francisco J. Picon for the technical assistance, and CAPES, CNPq, and FAPESP (#2008/04025-0 and #2013/03118-2) for the financial support.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Ferroic Materials Group, Department of Physics, Federal University of São Carlos, São Carlos, SP, 13565-905, Brazil

    André Marino Gonçalves, Fernando Andres Londono, Ducinei Garcia & José Antonio Eiras

  2. Institute of Physics, Universidad de Antioquia, Medellin, Colombia

    Fernando Andres Londono

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  1. André Marino Gonçalves
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  2. Fernando Andres Londono
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  3. Ducinei Garcia
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  4. José Antonio Eiras
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Correspondence to André Marino Gonçalves.

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Gonçalves, A.M., Londono, F.A., Garcia, D. et al. Domain structure and polarization reversal in ferroelectric lanthanum-modified lead titanate ceramics investigated by piezoresponse force microscopy. J Mater Sci 51, 4061–4069 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10853-016-9726-9

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