Domain structure in ferroelectric particles

Abstract Domain structure in perovskite ferroelectric particles of PbTiO3 and BaTiO3 was studied. The fact that most observed domains are 90° domains implies that elastic energy is the controlling influence on domain configuration. With decreasing particle size, single-domain will be more favored energetically than multi-domain structure. This work focused on the critical size below which the particle is single-domained. The critical size for PbTiO3 and BaTiO3 was calculated. It is about 100 nm for BaTiO3 and 25 nm for PbTiO3. The domain structure of PbTiO3 particle was observed by HRTEM. Our calculated results agree well with the experimental.