Ferroelectric domain switching in heat-treated LiNbO3crystals

Abstract
The pyroelectric effect and domain structure of heat-treated (Li2O outdiffused) LiNbO3 crystals have been studied. The heat treatment causes a domain inversion and almost total suppression of the pyroelectric current. Non-inverted domains have been observed in the outdiffused inverted layer. Based on the pyroelectric current-temperature dependence it is suggested that these domains are switched by an intrinsic bulk pyroelectric field.