Micro-Raman Visualization of Domain Structure in Strontium Barium Niobate Single Crystals

Formation of self-assembled nanodomain structures in single crystals of uniaxial ferroelectrics lithium niobate, lithium tantalate and strontium–barium niobate

“…As a result it is possible to choose the Raman spectroscopy combined with confocal microscopy for domain visualization in the bulk of LN, LT and SBN crystals with submicron resolution. 20,21,25,26 CRM is a new method for domain visualization which combines analytical abilities of a Raman spectroscopy and a high spatial resolution (below the diffraction limit), inherent to the confocal microscopy. It has been applied recently for domain visualization in LN and LT crystals both at the surface and in the bulk.…”

Micro-Raman Imaging of Ferroelectric Domain Structures in the Bulk of PMN-PT Single Crystals

“…Nevertheless, the observed effects are sufficient for imaging the domain wall positions both at the surface and in the bulk of PMN-PT single crystals. By analogy with effects observed earlier in LN [20][21][22], LT [19], and SBN [27] single crystals, one can assume that the spectral variations observed in the vicinity of the domain walls are due to the influence of partially compensated (residual) depolarization field [9]. Significantly weaker effects can be related with lower value of spontaneous polarization and higher dielectric permittivity of PMN-PT with respect to LN, LT, and SBN.…”

“…Domain engineering requires nondestructive methods with high spatial resolution for inspection of the domain wall positions both at the surface and in the crystal bulk [7,8]. There are two main methods of domain structure imaging [9] in the crystal bulk: second harmonic generation microscopy (SHGM) [10][11][12][13][14][15][16][17] and confocal Raman microscopy (CRM) [8,[18][19][20][21][22][23][24][25][26][27]. SHGM is based on the detection of local disturbance of the linear and nonlinear properties occurred at the domain walls, and thus only provides contrast of the domain walls [9].…”

“…The domain wall contrast is achieved by 2D representation of variations in the position and/or intensity of certain Raman lines recorded during the point-by-point scanning through the domain structure. The CRM imaging has been applied recently for domain walls visualization in uniaxial ferroelectrics lithium niobate (LiNbO 3 , LN) [20][21][22]27], lithium tantalate (LiTaO 3 , LT) [19], relaxor barium-strontium niobate (Sr 0.61 Ba 0.39 Nb 2 O 6 , SBN) [27] single crystals, and multiferroic bismuth ferrite (BiFeO 3 ) ceramics [25].…”

Domain shape instabilities and dendrite domain growth in uniaxial ferroelectrics

“…CRM enables visualization of the ferroelectric domain in the bulk by recording the Raman spectra collected subsequently from tiny spots of the sample during scanning [45][46][47][48][49]. The change of the phonon modes in the vicinity of the domain walls leads to local variation in position and/or intensity of certain Raman lines [47,[49][50][51][52]. For domain wall visualization, the spatial dependence of the chosen spectral parameter obtained during 2D scanning is converted into 2D digital arrays and represented in pseudo-colour images [53].…”