Poling and switching behavior of ferroelectric single grains studied by piezoelectric resonance

A piezoelectric resonance signal from a minute (~10 μg) single-grain ferroelectric sample was observed using an inductive pulse detection method (IPDM). The IPDM does not require electrodes to be coated on the samples and is suitable for small samples. Examples of temperature-dependent resonance signals from Rochelle salt, KH₂ PO₄ (KDP), and NH₄H₂PO₄ (ADP) single grains are shown. The poling and switching behavior of a single grain of Rochelle salt in an external electric field is studied. The time dependence of the resonance frequency and decay time constant of the transient piezoelectric resonance signal reflects the change in sample polarization due to variation of domain structure. Another advantage of the IPDM is its capability of observing fast initial change just after the application of electric field. The in-situ detection characteristic is facilitated by the well-isolated detection and poling systems inherent to inductive methods