Elastic anomalies associated with domain switching in BaTiO3 single crystals under in situ electrical cycling

The elastic response of BaTiO3 single crystals during electric field cycling at room temperature has been studied using in situ Resonant Ultrasound Spectroscopy (RUS), which allows monitoring of both the elastic and anelastic changes caused by ferroelectric polarization switching. We find that the first ferroelectric switching of a virgin single crystal is dominated by ferroelastic 90 degrees switching. In subsequent ferroelectric switching, ferroelastic switching is reduced by domain pinning and by the predominance of 180 degrees ferroelectric domains, as confirmed by polarized light microscopy. RUS under in situ electric field therefore demonstrates to be an effective technique for the investigation of electromechanical coupling in ferroelectrics.