Nanometer-scale local structural study of the paraelectric cubic phase of KNbO3 by convergent-beam electron diffraction

Nanometer-scale local structures of the paraelectric cubic phase of potassium niobate (KNbO3) are examined by convergent-beam electron diffraction (CBED) using a nanometer-size electron probe. The breaking of the cubic symmetry has been directly observed in the nanometer-scale areas of the cubic phase of KNbO3. This indicates the existence of local polarization clusters in the cubic phase. Symmetry breaking index maps for the fourfold rotation symmetry are given at different temperatures with the combined use of scanning transmission electron microscopy (STEM) and CBED (STEM-CBED).