Domain dynamics of La-doped PMN-PT transparent ceramics studied by piezoresponse force microscope

Ferroelectric domain structures and their dynamic behavior of La-doped lead magnesium niobate-lead titanate [Pb(Mg1/3Nb2/3)O3-xPbTiO3 (PMN-PT)] transparent ceramics under an external in-plane electric field are investigated by piezoresponse force microscopy (PFM). A remarkable effect of La doping on the domain configurations and domain kinetic behavior in La-doped PMN-PT transparent ferroelectric ceramics were found by PFM. For most compositions the switching behavior of domain structures shows a normal evolutionary trend, while for some certain composition anisotropic polarization switching dynamics were observed in macrodomain regions under in-plane bias in the La-doped PMN-PT transparent ceramics.