Planar electrode piezoelectric force microscopy to study electric polarization switching in BiFe O3

Publication Type:

Journal Article

Authors:

P. Shafer; F. Zavaliche; Y.-H. Chu; P.-L. Yang; M.P. Cruz; Ramamoorthy Ramesh

Source:

Applied Physics Letters, American Institute of Physics Inc., Volume 90, Number 20 (2007)

Keywords:

bismuth compounds, Electric field effects, Epitaxial electrodes, Ferroelectric switching, film growth, Magnetic domains, Magnetoelectric domain imaging, Microscopic examination, Piezoelectric force microscopy, Polarization, Single crystals, thin films

Abstract:

Piezoelectric force microscopy has been enhanced by coplanar epitaxial electrodes to detect and manipulate the striped ferroelectric domain structure of a multiferroic BiFe O3 thin film grown on single-crystalline DySc O3. Time-resolved imaging revealed ferroelastic (71° and 109°) switching of domains in a needlelike region that grew from one electrode toward the other in a uniform electric field, and demonstrated reversible rotation of the 71° domain stripe orientation in a nonuniform field. Purely ferroelectric (180°) switching was suppressed by the geometry of the electrodes. The extendibility of this apparatus opens the door toward magnetoelectric domain imaging. © 2007 American Institute of Physics.

Notes:

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