Observation of ferroelectric microdomains in LiNbO crystals by 3 electrostatic force microscopy

Mechanochemically polished surfaces of d.c. poled LiNbO3 crystals are observed by electrostatic force microscopy EFM.which is performed by applying a d.c. voltage to the tip. EFM is confirmed to be suitable for a non-destructive inspection of submicron size 1808 domains q domains.in yz plane. It is revealed by EFM that the yz plane has a positive charge and the q domains are charged negative in the air. A possibility is proposed that the Li2O deficiency is an origin of the q domains. q1999 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved