title: High resolution electromechanical imaging of ferroelectric materials in a liquid environment by piezoresponse force microscopy.
abstract: High-resolution imaging of ferroelectric materials using piezoresponse force microscopy (PFM) is demonstrated in an aqueous environment. The elimination of both long-range electrostatic forces and capillary interactions results in a localization of the ac field to the tip-surface junction and allows the tip-surface contact area to be controlled. This approach results in spatial resolutions approaching the limit of the intrinsic domain-wall width. Imaging at frequencies corresponding to high-order cantilever resonances minimizes the viscous damping and added mass effects on cantilever dynamics and allows sensitivities comparable to ambient conditions. PFM in liquids will provide novel opportunities for high-resolution studies of ferroelectric materials, imaging of soft polymer materials, and imaging of biological systems in physiological environments on, ultimately, the molecular level.
authors.affiliation: Materials Science and Technology Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, Tennessee 37831, USA.
authors.forename: Brian J
authors.initials: BJ
authors.lastname: Rodriguez
authors.forename: Stephen
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Jesse
authors.forename: A P
authors.initials: AP
authors.lastname: Baddorf
authors.forename: Sergei V
authors.initials: SV
authors.lastname: Kalinin
mesh_terms: D004563:Electrochemistry / Q000379:methods*; D007089:Image Enhancement / Q000379:methods*; D007501:Iron / Q000032:analysis*; D033401:Microscopy, Acoustic / Q000379:methods*; D018625:Microscopy, Atomic Force / Q000379:methods*; D012996:Solutions; D013314:Stress, Mechanical; D013499:Surface Properties
chemical_list: D012996:Solutions; D007501:Iron