Domain switching and surface fabrication of lithium niobate single crystals

On the basis of the crystallographic structure and chemical bonding properties, the different domain characteristics between the −Z and +Z surfaces of near-stoichiometric (SLN) crystals are studied. The analytical results indicate that the −Z surface of SLN crystals is preferred to fabricating the expected morphologies and to designing superstructures. The domain switching and surface morphology at the −Z surface of SLN crystals have been investigated by scanning force microscopy (SFM) and chemical etching method. Regular dot and lattice patterns may be fabricated at the −Z surface of SLN crystals by SFM, the hexagonal morphology can also be clearly observed by the chemical etching method.