Restrictive domain motion in polarization switching of lithium niobate

We investigate the electrostatic control of domain nucleation and motion for periodical polarization (Ps) switching on Z-cut congruent-grown lithium niobate (LiNbO3). A tenfold reduction in the tangential field (Ex) can be resolved as the perturbed, positive charge density intervening otherwise the single-domain crystal exceeds 10-3P s. This concept is realized in a two-step procedure consisting of a high-temperature treatment followed by pulsed field poling. Bulk periodic polarization switching is then realized underneath the oxidized electrode with the lateral 180° domain motion confined to the edge of the charged domain boundary. The forward domain growth can extend through the 500-μm-thick substrate and reach an aspect ratio as large as 150. These observations are attributed to the constraint on domain nucleation and the suppression of E x by the positive charge originating from the divergence of P s at the inverted domain boundary near the subsurface regime. © 2002 American Institute of Physics.