In-situ and atomic-scale observation of nano-scale ferroelectric domain structure

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Piezoelectric material, which deforms largely when electrical voltage is applied, is widely used in a variety of practical applications. Particularly, PMN-PT, a representative piezoelectric material, exhibits very high piezoelectricity. However, mechanism of the high piezoelectricity has not yet been clarified.In the present study, in order to understand the origin of high piezoelectricity, in-situ transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and atomic resolution scanning TEM observations were carried out.We have for the first time visualized the response of ferroelectric nanodomains to the applied electrical voltage, where the ferroelectric nanodomains are characteristic structure in PMN-PT. On the basis of results obtained in this research project, we have proposed that response of ferroelectric nanodomains plays very important role in the generation of very high piezoelectricity of this material.