Regensburg 2025 – scientific programme
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MM: Fachverband Metall- und Materialphysik
MM 9: Poster
MM 9.2: Poster
Monday, March 17, 2025, 18:30–20:30, P1
Ferroelectric perovskite oxides: PFM investigations of (001) surface — •Andrzej Jasicki1, Marta Macyk1, Llorenç Albons2, Konrad Szajna1, Martin Setvin2, Dominik Wrana1, and Franciszek Krok1 — 1Marian Smoluchowski Institute of Physics, Jagiellonian University, Krakow, Poland — 2Department of Surface and Plasma Science, Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic
Growing demand for energy from green sources drives development in this sector. Hydrogen, as one of the most promising fuels, is mostly produced with the use of electricity during electrolysis, what lowers the overall efficiency of whole process. To reduce energy costs, one should search for an efficient water-splitting catalyst.
Although ferroelectric perovskite oxides show great potential in photocatalysis, it can be further enhanced via piezo- and pyrocatalysis. In order to understand their role in water-splitting process, a thorough investigation of ferroelectricity manifested at surfaces is necessary. Piezoresponse Force Microscopy (PFM), a method based on inverse piezoelectric effect, provides an opportunity to have a closer look into surface domain structure of such materials.
This poster displays PFM and SEM data obtained by investigations into domain structure on surfaces of single-crystalline, ferroelectric perovskites, namely KNbO3 and BaTiO3. Measurements on both polished and cleaved (001) surfaces were conducted in room temperature and under ambient atmosphere. Influence of different poling voltages and exposure to water is also discussed.
Keywords: PFM; Ferroelectrics; Perovskites