Zhao Kunyu

Nanoscale Thermal Response in ZnO Varistors by Atomic Force Microscopy

We report the application of customer-built scanning thermal microscopy (SThM) based on a commercial atomic force microscope to investigate local thermal inhomogeneity of ZnO varistors. The so-called 3ω method, generally used for measuring macroscale thermal conductivity, is set up and integrated with an atomic force microscope to probe the nanoscale thermal property. Remarkably, thermal contrasts of ZnO varistors are firstly imaged by the SThM, indicating the uniform distribution of spinel phases at triple points. The frequency-dependent thermal signal of ZnO varistors is also studied to present quantitative evaluation of local thermal conductivity of the sample.

Local Piezoresponse and Thermal Behavior of Ferroelastic Domains in Multiferroic BiFeO3 Thin Films by Scanning Piezo-Thermal Microscopy

A dual probe, i.e., high resolution scanning piezo-thermal microscopy, is developed and employed to characterize the local piezoresponse and thermal behaviors of ferroelastic domains in multiferroic BiFeO3 thin films. Highly inhomogeneous piezoelectric responses are found in the thin film. A remarkably local thermal transformation across ferroelastic domain walls is clearly demonstrated by the quantitative 3ω signals related to thermal conductivity. Different polarization oriented ferroelastic domains are found to exhibit different local thermal responses. The underlying mechanism is possibly associated with the inhomogeneous stress distribution across the ferroelastic domain walls, leading to different phonons scattering contributions in the BiFeO3 thin film.

Piezoresponse Force Microscopy Imaging of Ferroelectric Domains in Bi(Zn1/2Ti1/2)O3-Pb(Mg1/3Nb2/3)O3-PbTiO3 Piezoelectric Ceramics

Bismuth zinc titanate dopied lead magnesium niobate-lead titanate[Bi(Zn1/2Ti1/2)O3-Pb(Mg1/3Nb2/3)O3-PbTiO3(BZT-PMN-PT)] piezoelectric ceramics are synthesized by the conventional solid state reaction method. Ferroelectric domain structures and the evolutionary behavior of BZT-PMN-PT ceramics under an external in-plane electric field are investigated by piezoresponse force microscopy (PFM). It is found that the BZT doping has a significant effect on the domain configurations and the domain kinetic behavior of the piezoelectric BZT-PMN-PT solid solution ceramics. Microdomains embedded in the macrodomains, induced by the BZT dopant in the solid solution ceramics, are clearly observed by PFM and their volume increases with increasing amounts of BZT doping. The microdomains of BZT-PMN-PT piezoelectric ceramics exhibit better domain dynamic behavior stability than macrodomains under an external in-plane electric field.

Acoustic Imaging Frequency Dynamics of Ferroelectric Domains by Atomic Force Microscopy

We report the acoustic imaging frequency dynamics of ferroelectric domains by low-frequency acoustic probe microscopy based on the commercial atomic force microscopy It is found that ferroelectric domain could be firstly visualized at lower frequency down to 0.5 kHz by AFM-based acoustic microscopy The frequency-dependent acoustic signal revealed a strong acoustic response in the frequency range from 7kHz to 10kHz, and reached maximum at 8.1kHz. The acoustic contrast mechanism can be ascribed to the different elastic response of ferroelectric microstructures to local elastic stress fields, which is induced by the acoustic wave transmitting in the sample when the piezoelectric transducer is vibrating and exciting acoustic wave under ac electric fields due to normal piezoelectric effects.

The Observation of Martensite and Magnetic Domain Structures in Ni53Mn24Ga23 Shape Memory Alloys by Scanning Electron Acoustic Microscopy and Scanning Thermal Microscopy

We present observations of martensite variants and ferromagnetic domain structures of Ni53Mn24Ga23 ferromagnetic shape memory alloys with a pure tetragonal martensitic phase by using scanning electron acoustic microscopy (SEAM) and scanning thermal microscopy (SThM). Electron acoustic images show a polycrystalline morphology with martensite variants. Direct coincidence between crystallographic martensitic twin variants and magnetic domains is found. A domain-like structure, obtained by SThM, is firstly reported, and then confirmed by magnetic force microscopy (MFM). The experimental results will be helpful for investigating the local thermal properties of ferromagnets and understanding the relationship between martensite variants and magnetic domains.

An Alternating-Current Voltage Modulated Thermal Probe Technique for Local Seebeck Coefficient Characterization

An ac voltage-modulated thermal probe technique based on the atomic force microscope is developed to measure local Seebeck coefficients (S) of thermoelectric bulk and films. The characterization principle is based on the strictly quadratic relationship between the excited local dc Seebeck voltage and the applied ac voltage at high frequency. Excellent agreement is found between local S values and their corresponding macro-S values of thermoelectric bulk and thin films. This thermoelectric probe technique provides a very convenient, promising tool for local thermoelectric parameters with sub-micrometer scale resolution.