Domain wall observation and dielectric anisotropy in PZN–PT by SPM

The voltage drops on the surfaces in PZN–20% PT and PZN–30% PT were investigated using the electrostatic force microscopy (EFM). It was found that the voltage drop per unit length in the a-domain is larger than the one in the c-domains on the sample surface with the ferroelastic domain wall structure, implying that the dielectric constant perpendicular to the spontaneous polarization is larger than the one parallel to the spontaneous polarization in the vicinity of the morphotropic phase boundary (MPB). Dielectric anisotropy in the vicinity of the MPB was discussed.