Switching spectroscopic measurement of surface potentials on ferroelectric surfaces via an open-loop Kelvin probe force microscopy method

Abstract

We report a method for switching spectroscopy Kelvin probe force microscopy (SS-KPFM). The method is established as a counterpart to switching spectroscopy piezoresponse force microscopy (SS-PFM) in Kelvin probe force microscopy. SS-KPFM yields quantitative information about the surface charge state during a local bias-induced polarization switching process, complementary to the electromechanical coupling properties probed via SS-PFM. Typical ferroelectric samples of a Pb-based relaxor single crystal and a BiFeO3 thin film were investigated using both methods. We briefly discuss the observed surface charging phenomena and their influence on the associated piezoresponse hysteresis loops.

Variation of contact resonance frequency during domain switching in PFM measurements for ferroelectric materials

“…However, due to the principle of probing method in PFS, 5,6 the measurements of the local ferroelectric responses can be affected by a number of factors. Besides the polarization-electric field (P-E) relationship, the electrostatic force between the tip and sample surface, 7 surface charging, [8][9][10] Vegard effect 11 and ionic mechanisms [12][13][14] can also induce the hysteresis-like loops in which are similar to the P-E loops obtained in ferroelectric materials during the PFS measurements. In addition, it is also noted that such hysteresis-like loop can also be observed in a broad variety of non-ferroelectric materials during the PFS measurements, for example, glass, 15 LiCoO2, 12 TiO2 16 and even banana peel.…”

Li transport in fresh and aged LiMn2O4 cathodes via electrochemical strain microscopy

“…28 Additionally, static long-range ordering of JahnTeller polarons and local charge ordering under external electric field in manganites can induce lattice distortion that can break the structural inversion symmetry and provoke local ferroelectric-like response. 20,[29][30][31] Though it was not reported in LiMn 2 O 4 so far, we cannot exclude a possibility of emergence of ferroelectric-like state (localized in time and space), which is difficult to assess numerically.…”

Observation of short-lived local polar states induced by applied tip biases in BaTiO3-based relaxor ferroelectric ceramics

“…The latter tendency can be attributed to modified surface charge states under high biases (e.g., charge injection from the tip) leading to an enhanced electrostatic effect. 18,19 In view of these results, we believe that the weak features observed on the after-poling phase image (see Fig. 2(a)) stem from the electrostatic effect rather than signifying any long-lived induced polar regions.…”