Low-voltage nanodomain writing in He-implanted lithium niobate crystals

Abstract

A scanning force microscope tip is used to write ferroelectric domains in He-implanted single-crystal lithium niobate and subsequently probe them by piezoresponse force microscopy. Investigation of cross-sections of the samples showed that the buried implanted layer, ∼1 μm below the surface, is nonferroelectric and can thus act as a barrier to domain growth. This barrier enabled stable surface domains of <1 μm size to be written in 500 μm thick crystal substrates with voltage pulses of only 10 V applied to the tip.