Local Polarization Switching in the Presence of Surface Charged Defects: Microscopic Mechanisms and Piezoresponse Force Spectroscopy Observations

Abstract

The thermodynamics and kinetics of tip-induced polarization switching in Piezoresponse Force Microscopy in the presence of surface charge defects is studied using the combination of analytical and numerical techniques. The signature of the defects in hysteresis loop fine structure and Switching Spectroscopy PFM images is identified and compared to experimental observations. An approach for the deconvolution of PFM spectroscopy measurements to extract relevant defect parameters is derived. This methodology is universal and can be extended to switching in other ferroics and in reversible electrochemical processes, establishing a pathway for the understanding of the thermodynamics and kinetics of phase transitions at a single defect level.

arXiv comment55 pages, 14 figures, 1 table, 2 Appendices, to be submitted to Phys. Rev. B high quality figures are available at request

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Cited by in corpus (6)

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• Landau-Ginzburg-Devonshire theory for electromechanical hysteresis loop formation in piezoresponse force microscopy of thin films
• Lateral piezoelectric response across ferroelectric domain walls in thin films
• Impact of ferroelectric nonlinearity and correlation effects on nanodomain formation