Nanoscale Domain Effects in Ferroelectrics. Formation and Evolution of Self-Assembled Structures in LiNbO3and LiTaO3

We discuss the most interesting nanoscale domain effects resulting in formation and evolution of self-assembled domain structures in various representatives of LiNbO 3 and LiTaO 3 family. Several exotic domain kinetic scenarios for complete suppression of the classical wall motion have been revealed. It has been shown that the modification of the surface layer allows to obtain: (1) the wall motion controlled by merging with nanoscale domains generated in front of the moving wall and (2) the discrete switching by enlargement of the web-like self-assembled ensemble of isolated domains. The formation of nanoscale quasi-periodic and self-similar structures during cooling after pulse heating without any application of external electric field was studied. It has been shown that all experimental results can be explained, if the retardation of the bulk screening of the depolarization field is taken into account.