An AFM study on ferroelastic domains in lead phosphate, Pb-3(PO4)(2)

The topography of the intersection of ferroelastic W domain walls with (100) surfaces of lead phosphate, Pb-3(PO4)(2), has been imaged with tapping mode atomic force microscopy (TMAFM). Spontaneous deformation of the ferrophase leads to a cleavage plane which forms a zig-zag profile along W domain walls. The predicted angle of 178.55 degrees between two adjacent domains on a (100) surface is confirmed by TMAFM observations. Surface deformation has no influence on this angle due to the dominance of the long-range spontaneous strain. Furthermore, W domains end as needle-like structures and TMAFM observations show that there is no detectable change in the local surface deformation in the vicinity of these needle tips.