Investigations into local ferroelectric properties by atomic force microscopy

In this article, we describe nanometer scale characterization of piezoelectric thin films of Lead–Zirconate–Titanate (PZT). Using the electric field from a biased conducting atomic-force microscopy (AFM) tip, we show that it is possible to form and subsequently image ferroelectric domains. Using a sphere-plane model for the tip-sample system we calculate the distribution of electric potential, field and polarization charge, and find good agreement with the experimental values. We also discuss the effects of surface contaminants on domain formation.