Domain Nucleation and Hysteresis Loop Shape in Piezoresponse Force Spectroscopy

Abstract

Electromechanical hysteresis loop measurements in Piezoresponse Force Microscopy (Piezoresponse Force Spectroscopy) have emerged as a powerful technique for probing ferroelectric switching behavior on the nanoscale. Interpretation of PFS data requires the relationship between the domain parameters and PFM signal to be established. Here, we analyze the switching process using a modified point charge model for the electric field of the tip. The charge value and position are selected so that its electric field isopotential surface reproduces the tip with definite radius of curvature. Using linear theory of elasticity the relationship between the sizes of semiellipsoidal domain and PFM signal has been derived. The role of domain nucleation on piezoresponse hysteresis loop is established.

18 pages, 4 figures, 3 appendices, submitted to Appl. Phys. Lett

References in corpus (1)

• Materials Contrast in Piezoresponse Force Microscopy

Cited by in corpus (5)

• Phase transitions induced by confinement of ferroic nanoparticles
• Piezoresponse Force Spectroscopy of Ferroelectric Materials
• The Piezoresponse Force Microscopy of surface layers and thin films: effective response and resolution function
• Local Polarization Switching in the Presence of Surface Charged Defects: Microscopic Mechanisms and Piezoresponse Force Spectroscopy Observations
• Polarization Screening Effect on Local Polarization Switching Mechanism and Hysteresis Loop Measurements in Piezoresponse Force Microscopy