Electron-Mirror-Microscope Analysis of Surface Potentials on Ferroelectrics

Abstract

Electron‐mirror photomicrographs were taken of barium titanate single‐crystal and lead zirconate‐titanate polycrystalline ferroelectric materials. Electrical potential distributions were observed with the microscope on the surfaces of both materials. The domain structure of barium titanate was evident as was the transition from the ferroelectric to the paraelectric state. Lead zirconate‐titanate ceramic in the unpoled and poled states appeared significantly different as did regions polarized in opposite directions. These observations are explained in terms of bound surface charges.