Domain switching dynamics in relaxor ferroelectric Pb(Mg1/3Nb2/3)O3-PbTiO3 revealed by time-resolved high-voltage electron microscopy

Ferroelectric domain dynamics in Pb(Mg1/3Nb2/3)O-3-0.3PbTiO(3) single crystals have been studied by in situ biasing high-voltage transmission electron microscopy with a direct electron detection camera. We have achieved time-resolved recording of polarization switching in real space on a 2.5 ms time scale. The reversible response of micrometer-scale domains was observed by applying an electric field of 1 kV/mm. Detailed analyses on smaller sized domains 100-500 nm in size revealed that the domain switching initiated at a corner of a rectangular domain and propagated inward rapidly. The switching proceeded within 60 ms and the maximum switching rate, as fast as 6-8 mu m/s, was observed. The domain switching kinetics was classified as two-dimensional nucleation and growth mode based on the Kolmogolov-Avrami-Ishibashi model.

Automated summary

This study used in situ biasing high-voltage transmission electron microscopy to study ferroelectric domain dynamics in Pb(Mg1/3Nb2/3)O-3-0.3PbTiO(3) single crystals. Time-resolved recording of polarization switching on a 2.5 ms time scale revealed reversible response of micrometer-scale domains to an electric field of 1 kV/mm. Analysis on smaller sized domains showed that switching initiated at a corner of a domain and proceeded rapidly inward, with a maximum switching rate of 6-8 mu m/s.