Activation of single domains in (111) PZT and (100) SBT

(111) Lead Zirconate Titanate PZT films (fully poled) of the composition Pb Ti0.75Zr0.25O3 have been investigated by Tapping Mode Atomic Force Microsco py (TMAFM). As expected, the PZT crystallites were partitioned into slabs o f 90 degrees domains with domain walls oriented along < 110 > planes. The p olarization c-axis of the domains was inclined by similar to 35 degrees tow ards the surface and tilted alternately by +45 degrees or -45 degrees to th e surface normal. Mechanical activation of the surface with plasma-sharpene d supertips with a force of similar to 5 nN allowed to monitor reversible m echanical switching of single domains involving 180 degrees polarization re versal of entire domain slabs. The observed elastic changes in surface topo graphy amounted to similar to1 nm. Similarly, single domains in rhombohedra l a-side oriented SrBi2Ta2O9 (SBT) crystallites were switched mechanically which was observed by a change in surface corrugation of similar to 10 nm.