High Spatial Resolution of the ferroelectric domain structure by Confocal Raman Microscopy coupled whit Atomic Force Microscopy

Abstract

Different attempts have been made to combine the high spatial resolution of scanning probe microscopy with chemical information provided by spectroscopic techniques. Methods based on micro Raman spectroscopy give the possibility to study at a local scale the structural deformations of perovskites, which are induced both by the tilting of BO6 octahedra and by the cationic displacements. In this contribution we highlight some practical aspects in the study of different ferroelectric domains structures, with special attention to some relevant results obtained in different lead-free piezoceramics, such as (K,Na)NbO3 and Bi4Ti3O12, and in single crystals (BaTiO3). This work presents and discusses the ferroelectric domain structure existing in KNN based ceramics studied by Confocal Raman Microscopy (CRM) coupled with Atomic Force Microscopy. The study of ferroelectric domains distribution by CRM permits us a comprehension of the domain formation mechanism and the stress reduction processes in piezoelectric materials.