Effect of electrical boundary conditions on ferroelectric domain structures in thin films

The domain structures in a ferroelectric thin film are studied using a phase-field model. A cubic-to-tetragonal ferroelectric phase transition in lead titanate thin film is considered. Both elastic interactions and electrostatic interactions are taken into account. The focus is on the effect of electrical boundary conditions on the domain morphologies and volume fractions. It is shown that different electric boundary conditions may have a significant effect on the domain structures. (C) 2002 American Institute of Physics.