Distance and relative humidity contributions to the atomic force microscopy off surface electrostatic response of soda lime glass.

ABSTRACT: Piezoresponse force microscopy (PFM) has emerged as a tool of choice to probe ferroelectric materials through electrochemomechanical coupling at the nanoscale. However, this technique is not without its challenges, with artefacts related to electrostatic and topographical features presenting a significant obstacle to the accurate interpretation of PFM data. Here, we investigate the bias-dependent off-surface electrostatic response of soda lime glass, a material not traditionally associated with electromechanical activity. Unexpectedly, we observe a distinctive ferroelectric-like hysteresis behavior that is highly dependent on both the tip-sample separation and relative humidity. We also show the dynamic nature of these interactions, through a temporal analysis of the relaxation of this ele

SUBMITTER: Gaponenko I 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12032143 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature