Periodic Domain Structures Obtained by Growth of LiNbO3 Crystals Doped with Gadolinium

The growth of a periodic domain structure in LiNbO3 crystals doped with gadolinium (Gd, 0.44 wt %) was investigated by special electron beam surface charging in a scanning electron microscope and on a atomic force microscope. Ferroelectric domain boundaries with "tail-to-tail" and "head-to-head" P-s orientations were comparatively analyzed. The domain boundaries had different forms and differed by their physical properties. Micron-size surface crystal regions close to the "tail-to-tail" boundaries were charged slower by electron irradiation and had modified elastic properties. This region was detected by using the lateral force mode of atomic force microscopy. The observed morphology and property features were supposed to be due to different concentration gradients of the Gd impurity and different width of its distribution close to the domain boundaries of different types.