Ferroelectric material properties are strongly governed by domain structures and their evolution processes, but the evolution processes of complex domain patterns during a macroscopic electrical poling process are still elusive. In the present work, domain-evolution processes in a PZT ceramic near the morphotropic phase-boundary composition were studied during a step-wise electrical poling using piezoresponse force microscopy (PFM). Electron backscatter diffraction was used with the PFM data to identify the grain boundaries in the region of interest. In response to an externally the applied electric field, growth and retreat of non-180° domain boundaries wasere observed. The results indicate that ferroelectric polarization-switching nucleates and evolves in concordance with the pattern of the pre-existing domains.

Ferroelectric properties are governed by domain structures and domain wall motions, so it is of significance to understand domain evolution processes under mechanical stress. In the present study, in situ piezoresponse force microscopy (PFM) observation under compressive stress was carried out for a near-morphotropic PZT. Both 180° and non-180° domain structures were observed from PFM images, and their habit planes were identified using electron backscatter diffraction in conjunction with PFM data. By externally applied mechanical stress, needle-like non-180° domain patterns were broadened via domain wall motions. This was interpreted via phenomenological approach such that the total energy minimization can be achieved by domain wall motion rather than domain nucleation mainly due to the local gradient energy. Meanwhile, no motion was observed from curvy 180° domain walls under the mechanical stress, validating that 180° domain walls are not directly influenced by mechanical stress.