title: Sample-tip interaction of piezoresponse force microscopy in ferroelectric nanostructures.
abstract: We report on qualitative and quantitative implications of the sample-tip interaction in piezoresponse force microscopy. Our finite-element analysis of adsorbate effects, sample heterogeneities, and tip asymmetries is in agreement with experimental observation of ferroelectric nanostructures. Qualitative discrepancies arise from locally asymmetric tip-sample interaction. Any quantitative determination of field-related material parameters as required for the verification of semiempirical models of the ferroelectric limit typically relies on an overestimated field across the sample. Our findings indicate that adsorbates reduce the actual field across the nanograin by roughly one order of magnitude.
authors.affiliation: Institut für Festkörperforschung, Center of Nanoelectronic Systems for Information Technology, Forschungszentrum Jülich, 52425 Jülich, Germany.
authors.forename: Frank
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Peter
authors.forename: Andreas
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Rüdiger
authors.forename: Krzysztof
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Szot
authors.forename: Rainer
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Waser
authors.forename: Bernd
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Reichenberg
mesh_terms: D003198:Computer Simulation; D017097:Electric Impedance; D004563:Electrochemistry / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D004574:Electromagnetic Fields; D008422:Materials Testing; D018625:Microscopy, Atomic Force / Q000379:methods*; D008956:Models, Chemical; D049329:Nanostructures / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000528:radiation effects / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D010316:Particle Size