NANOSCALE VISUALIZATION AND CONTROL OF FERROELECTRIC DOMAINS BY ATOMIC-FORCE MICROSCOPY

The nanoscale visualization and control of domain structure with atomic force microscopy (AFM) in the ferroelectric crystal guanidinium aluminum sulfate hexahydrate is reported. The origin of the domain contrast in the topographic of AFM images is explained by the piezoelectric deformation of the crystal surface in the internal electric field. The domain structure was modified by applying a voltage to the conductive AFM tip. The dynamics of domain growth has been directly observed for the first time with a resolution of 10 nm. © 1995 The American Physical Society.