Lattice-Rotation Vortex at the Charged Monoclinic Domain Boundary in a Relaxor Ferroelectric Crystal

We present evidence of lattice-rotation vortices having an average radius of ∼7 nm at the ferroelectric domain boundary of (1-x)Pb(Zn1/3Nb2/3)O3-xPbTiO3 (x=0.08). Maps of crystal orientations and domain symmetry breaking are obtained using scanning convergent beam electron diffraction, which show fractional rotation vortices near the 50° monoclinic domain walls. The merging of 2D and 1D topological defects is consistent with inhomogeneous boundary charge and expected to have a large impact on the domain-switching mechanisms in relaxor ferroelectric crystals and ferroelectric devices.