The local cationic configurations in the K2Sr4Nb10O30 lattice and peculiarities of its surface piezoresponse.

Basing on the X-ray diffraction studies, a possibility of six local cationic configurations was established for K2Sr4Nb10O30 (KSN) having a tetragonal tungsten bronze-type structure. The association of these locally charged configurations may lead to the formation of the electrically active nanoregions. The piezoresponse force microscopy studies revealed at the KSN surface the presence of a subsystem of nano- or meso-size regions, which may be electrically active. Distribution and reference size of these regions have been estimated using the Fourier filtering of the source piezoresponse image. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]