Surface polar nanoregions structure of potassium tantalate doped with lithium obtained at cryogenic temperatures using piezoresponse force microscopy technique

In the present work we have used a piezoresponse force microscopy (Pfm) technique for the studyof the polar surface structure of potassium tantalate single crystal doped with li+ ions (KlT-3 %) at low temperatures. The results of our measurements confirmed the existence of polar nanoregions in the temperature range of 10 - 80 K. We obtained a temperature evolution of the nanoregions and estimated theirdimensions. Resolving polar nanoregions structure of KlT-3% crystal in zero-field heating after zero-field cooling regime could indicate the existence of ferroelectric phase transition in this material.