High-Symmetry Polarization Domains in Low-Symmetry Ferroelectrics

We present experimental evidence for polygonal domain faceting in the ferroelectric polymer poly(vinylidene fluoride-trifluoroethylene) (PVDF-TrFE) films with the lower orthorhombic crystallographic symmetry. It is proposed that this effect can arise from purely electrostatic depolarizing forces. We show that, in contrast to magnetic bubble shape domains, where such type of deformation instability has a predominantly elliptical character, the emergence of more symmetrical circular harmonics is favored in ferroelectrics with high dielectric constants.