Combined piezoresponse force microscopy and Raman scattering investigation of domain boundaries in BiFeO3 ceramics

Domain structure of BiFeO₃ ceramics has been investigated using a combination of piezoresponse force microscopy (PFM) and Raman scattering techniques. Both methods demonstrate the presence of ferroelastic domains, separated by almost parallel planar domain walls, as well as the presence of large homogeneous single ferroelastic domain regions. In addition to highly resolved domain pattern obtained by PFM, small frequency shifts of the Raman-active modes give us complementary information about the angle φ between the surface normal and the rhombohedral axis of the BiFeO₃ crystal for any measured position at the surface of the sample.