Nanoparticle decoration of ferroelectric domain patterns in LiNbO3 crystal

A scatheless visualization has demonstrated that the engineered and spontaneous domains of lithium niobate (LiNbO3) crystal can be delineated by means of the nanoparticle decoration. These nanoparticles were monodispersed in nonpolar solvent and negatively charged under the existence of aerosol-OT (AOT or sodium di-2-ethylhexylsulfosuccinate). This method was based on the process of electrostatic interaction, in which the LiNbO3 crystal wafers were heated in the presence of decorating colloid solvent. The charged nanoparticles deposited preferentially on the surfaces of those domains with the opposite charges. The delineated patterns corresponded with the polarization property of domain structures and consequently provided a domain contrast image with resolution down to micron scale. This decoration technique is effective, easily operated, nondestructive for sample, noninvasive for human body, and especially, is more suitable for the domain mapping of oxide ferroelectric crystals. In addition, the initial exploration of the model of such decoration process is also presented in this article.