Ferroelectric domains in epitaxial PbZr 0.65 Ti 0.35 O 3 / La 0.5 Sr 0.5 CoO 3 heterostructures

In epitaxial heterostructures of PbZr 0.65 Ti 0.35 O 3 / La 0.5 Sr 0.5 CoO 3 / MgO ( 001 ) with large lattice mismatch, ferroelectric domains were studied using piezoresponse force microscopy and microstructure analysis. In the c -oriented tetragonal PbZr 0.65 Ti 0.35 O 3 films, random arrays of 0.1 - 1 μ m sized ferroelectric domains with facet-type 180° boundaries were found. The lateral inhomogeneity of the switching fields and of the field-induced strains was detected. The results are discussed in terms of island growth and dislocation generation in epitaxial heterostructures having large lattice mismatch.