Tip-bias-induced domain evolution in PMN-PT transparent ceramics via piezoresponse force microscopy

Piezoresponse force microscopy (PFM) was employed to investigate ferroelectric domain structures and their dynamic behavior of lead magnesium niobate-lead titanate [Pb(Mg1/3Nb2/3)O3-xPbTiO3 (PMN-PT)] transparent ceramics under an tip-bias-induced electric field. A remarkable effect of fluctuation of PT content on the domain configurations and domain dynamic response in PMN-PT transparent ferroelectric ceramics were found by PFM. Comparing with PMN-10%PT and PMN-20%PT, the reversed polarization of macrodomain area in PMN-35%PT and PMN-25%PT exhibits a relatively higher response behavior and better polarization retention performance under the PFM tip-bias-induced electric field, which correspond to their unique macroscopic electro-optic properties.