Effect of phase transition on the surface potential of the BaTiO3 (100) surface by variable temperature scanning surface potential microscopy

Variable temperature atomic force microscopy and scanning surface potential microscopy are used to characterize the ferroelectric BaTiO3 (100) surface . The influence of domain structure on surface topography and surface poten tial distribution is discussed. Domain induced surface corrugations were fo und to disappear above the Curie temperature confirming the local phase tra nsition. Associated variations of surface potential are quantified. Relaxat ion of surface potential after the transition to paraelectric state on heat ing and during the transition to the ferroelectric state on cooling was obs erved. Differences in kinetics of the topographic structure and surface pot ential variations are used to distinguish polarization compensation mechani sms. (C) 2000 American Institute of Physics. [S0021-8979(00)02908-X].