Domain structure study of SrBi2Ta2O9 ferroelectric thin films by scanning capacitance microscopy

Abstract

Scanning capacitance microscopy was used to image the polarization-induced microstructural patterns of sol-gel derivative SrBi2Ta2O9 (SBT) thin films. A sharp image contrast was induced between the nanosized domains owing to the various polarities, so that the domain structure in the SBT thin film was clearly revealed. As a result, the switched and unswitched regions could be unequivocally identified. This investigation also confirms that the reversal polarization process of a ferroelectric domain is much easier inside a large grain than in a small grain.