Self-organization of ferroelectric domains induced by water and reinforced via ultrasonic vibration

Pattern formation caused by self-organization is a fascinating phenomenon that appears in biological, chemical, and physical systems. In ferroelectrics, although a variety of domain patterns have been reported at different scales and dimensions, the self-organization process of ferroelectric domains was rarely investigated. Here, in 0.72Pb(Mg 1/3 Nb 2/3 )O 3 −0.28PbTiO 3 bulk crystals exposed to water, the self-organized formation process of domain structures is observed and reinforced by ultrasonic vibration. By combining experimental observations and theoretical analysis, we find that adsorbed H + /OH − ions on the sample surface act as screening charges to induce the coarsening of the ferroelectric domains. Meanwhile, interactions among dipoles determine the ordering of the domain configuration, while ultrasonic vibration reduces the barrier height for polarization switching. The process of domain evolution deviates from that of the non-conservative dynamic system, and instead fits a percolation model with a clear transition point. This work demonstrates the self-organization of ferroelectric domains induced by water, which is of value for understanding domain dynamics and for the development of high-performance ferroelectric materials.