Piezoresponse force microscopy studies on the domain structures and local switching behavior of Pb(In _1/2Nb _1/2)O ₃- Pb(Mg _1/3Nb _2/3)O ₃-PbTiO ₃ single crystals

The static domain structures and local switching behavior of relaxor ferroelectric 0.29Pb(In _1/2Nb _1/2)O ₃-0. 44Pb(Mg _1/3Nb _2/3)O ₃-0.27PbTiO ₃ single crystals at three crystal orientations are studied using piezoresponse force microscopy (PFM). PFM domain imaging shows that both the [001] and [111] oriented crystals exhibit a labyrinth-like surface domain pattern while at the [110] crystal orientation the domains are preferentially aligned along 110 directions. Vertical and lateral PFM images are used in combination to discuss the polarization vector alignment underlying the observed domain behaviour. Piezoresponse hysteresis loops acquired from these crystals indicate that the [111] crystal orientation has distinct local switching characteristics from the other two orientations in terms of, e.g., coercive voltage. Moreover, we investigate the tip-induced domain growth kinetics on an externally poled [001] crystal, the results of which exemplify an important role of extrinsic factors, e.g., the charge injection effect, in the domain patterning process.