Observation of ferroelectric domains in LiTaO3

Periodic and partially reversed 180 degrees domain patterns in LiTaO3 singl e crystals, engineered through pulse poling, can be directly observed by us ing environmental scanning electron microscopy (ESEM) in secondary electron emission mode. The ESEM technique does not require surface treatment and c an be used to observe ferroelectric domains on a natural cracked surface in a bulk material. This is very important since the domain patterns obtained by this technique can truly represent the domain configurations in a bulk. The domain structures are confirmed by chemical etching and scanning elect ron microscopy. The ESEM gives stable and high resolution images.