Visualization of Sub-Grain Structures and Residual Stresses in Polycrystalline Barium Titanate by Cathodoluminescence Spectroscopy

Cathodoluminescence (CL) spectroscopy on BaTiO 3 enables one to determine stoichiometry, domain structures and residual stresses by a nanometer sized electron probe capable of integrating over a large sample surface. In domain-rich materials and to account for microscopic surface domains, a direct experimental assessment of the domain distribution is desirable, as well as a direct visualization of internal residual stresses. We extensively apply CL microscopy to polycrystalline BaTiO 3 in order to obtain such a large body of structural information in a conventional scanning electron microscope and propose this technique as more advantageous in terms of both spatial resolution and scanning flexibility over other spectroscopic methods.