Electrostatic force microscopy (EFM) was used to directly probe surface potential in doped barium titanate semiconducting ceramics. EFM measurements were performed using noncontact scans at a constant tip-sample separation of 75 nm with varied bias voltages applied to the sample. The applied voltage was mapped up to 10 V and the distribution of potential across the sample showed changes in regions that matched the grain boundaries, displaying a constant barrier width of 145.2 nm.
electrostatic force microscopy; electric potential; barriers; barium titanate
