Characterization of ferroelectric domains in morphotropic potassium sodium niobate with scanning probe microscopy

Lead-free piezoceramic potassium sodium niobate in its morphotropic composition was synthesized with abnormal grain growth. Ferroelectric domain patterns were imaged with piezoresponse force microscopy. Analysis of the domain structure at the morphotropic phase boundary revealed a coexistence of tetragonal and orthorhombic polarized domains in a single grain. (c) 2007 American Institute of Physics.