Microwave conductivity of ferroelectric domains and domain walls in a hexagonal rare-earth ferrite

We report the nanoscale electrical imaging results in hexagonal Lu0.6Sc0.4FeO3 single crystals using conductive atomic force microscopy and scanning microwave impedance microscopy. While the dc and ac response of the ferroelectric domains can be explained by the surface band bending, the drastic enhancement of domain wall (DW) ac conductivity is clearly dominated by the dielectric loss due to DW vibration rather than mobile carrier conduction. Our work provides a unified physical picture to describe the local conductivity of ferroelectric domains and domain walls, which will be important for future incorporation of electrical conduction, structural dynamics, and multiferroicity into high-frequency nanodevices.