In situ studies of nanoscale electromechanical behavior of nacre under flexural stresses using band excitation PFM

In this paper, we have studied the electromechanical coupling behaviors of nacre under non-destructive flexural stresses. Band excitation piezoresponse force microscopy is used as the primary tool to characterize the piezoelectric properties of nacre. This method can differentiate various constituents in nacre at the nanoscale and track their in situ responses under tensile and compressive stresses. The local ferroelectric hysteresis behaviors of nacre are also studied. Based on the hysteresis loops observed under different stress states, various phenomena, including the stress-induced internal field and energy loss, are revealed in this study. (C) 2013 Acta Materialia Inc. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.