Domain Nucleation on the Surface of BaTiO3

A new technique is described which should prove useful in studying the switching mechanism in ferroelectrics. A sequence of electron mirror photomicrographs of a BaTiO3 single crystal taken during switching demonstrates the technique. In this crystal, spike-shaped a domains were observed to nucleate at the positive contact when an external voltage was applied. Domains could also be nucleated at the negative region when the electron beam was allowed to charge the surface.