Departmental Papers (MSE)
Document Type
Journal Article
Date of this Version
May 2002
Abstract
Piezoresponse force microscopy (PFM) is one of the most established techniques for the observation and local modification of ferroelectric domain structures on the submicron level. Both electrostatic and electromechanical interactions contribute at the tip-surface junction in a complex manner, which has resulted in multiple controversies in the interpretation of PFM. Here we analyze the influence of experimental conditions such as tip radius of curvature, indentation force, and cantilever stiffness on PFM image contrast. These results are used to construct contrast mechanism maps, which correlate the imaging conditions with the dominant contrast mechanisms. Conditions under which materials properties can be determined quantitatively are elucidated.
Keywords
piezoresponse force microscopy, PFM, ferroelectric domain structures, electromechanical interactions, tip-surface junction, tip radius of curvature
Date Posted: 18 October 2004
This document has been peer reviewed.
Comments
Copyright Materials Research Society. Reprinted from Journal of Materials Research, Volume 17, Number 5, May 2002, pages 936-939.
Publisher URL: http://www.mrs.org/publications/jmr/jmra/articles/2002/may/005.pdf