Influence of adsorbates on the piezoresponse of KnBO3

Abstract

We report on the reduction of piezoresponse in KNbO3 originating from a surface layer. An analysis with surface sensitive measurements shows that this layer consists of chemisorbates and physisorbates. Heating the sample under ultra high vacuum conditions removes the surface layer on the perovskite to a large extend. This treatment has a drastic effect on the piezoresponse as the potential difference applied to the sample is no longer reduced by a voltage drop across the adsorbate layer, leading to a higher electric field compared to the case with an adsorbate layer. Experiments and simulations are presented confirming this postulation on KNbO3