Electron backscatter diffraction mapping of herringbone domain structures in tetragonal piezoelectrics

Herringbone domain structures have been mapped using electron backscatter diffraction in two tetragonal piezoelectrics: lead zirconate titanate [Pb(Zr,Ti)O3] and bismuth ferrite–lead titanate [(PbTi)0.5(BiFe)0.5O3]. Analysis of the domain misorientations across the band junctions shows that the structures correspond very well to crystallographic models. High resolution mapping with a 20nm step size allowed the crystal rotation across one of these band junctions in lead zirconate titanate to be studied in detail and allowed an improved estimation of the peak strain at the junction, of 0.56GPa. The significance of this for crack nucleation and propagation in such materials is discussed.