Domain distributions in tetragonal Pb(Zr, Ti)O3 thin films probed by polarized Raman spectroscopy -: art. no. 232902

We have investigated polarized Raman spectra of (001)/(100)-oriented tetragonal epitaxial Pb(ZrxTi1-x)O-3 (PZT) thin films (x=similar to 0.35) in which the volume fraction of the polar c domain is systematically varied from 4% to 96%. From polarization analyses using high epitaxial quality films, we have successfully isolated the A(1) and B-1 phonons from the E phonons, thus offering a distinctive evaluation of the c domains. As increasing c-domain volume, the A(1)(TO) modes linearly increase in their intensity. A remarkable correlation is found between the A(1)(1TO)-mode intensity and the c-domain volume for PZT films. We suggest that this correlation as well as the A(1)(1TO)-mode intensity provide a simple and useful probe for characterization of c-domain volume and ferroelectric properties in PZT-based devices. (c) 2005 American Institute of Physics.