Surface potential distribution in an indentation- pre-cracked BaTiO ₃ single crystal

This article presents surface electric potential distributions, measured by Kelvin Probe Force Microscopy, on the (001) surface in an indentation-pre- cracked BaTiO₃ single crystal with and without applied electric field. The results show that cracks are higher potential regions in comparison to other regions. The higher surface potential is induced by the crack itself in air at room temperature and an applied in-plane electric field cannot change the major feature of the potential distribution across the crack.