Influence of feedback parameters on ferroelectric domain imaging with piezoresponse force microscopy

The piezoresponse (PR) amplitude and phase signals for antiparallel ferroelectric domains were investigated with different feedback parameters. It is found that the drive frequency and setpoint can strongly alternate the PR image contrast, while the drive phase can be considered as a constant adding to the PR phase signal. The PR amplitude is proportional to the drive amplitude while the PR phase is drive amplitude independent. The larger piezoelectric vibration amplitude and fitting piezoelectric constants (PCs) obtained by vectorial analysis compared with the known values are originated from the sample resonance, and the local electrostatic force can lead to a nonlinear shift in the measured PCs from the theoretical expectations.