Compared to AgNbO₃ based ceramics, the experimental investigations on the single crystalline AgNbO₃, especially the ground state and ferroic domain structures, are not on the same level. Here, based on successfully synthesized AgNbO₃ single crystal using a flux method, we observed the coexistence of ferroelastic and ferroelectric domain structures by a combination study of polarized light microscopy and piezoresponse force microscopy. This finding may provide a new aspect for studying AgNbO₃. The result also suggests a weak electromechanical response from the ferroelectric phase of AgNbO₃, which is also supported by the transmission electron microscope characterization. Our results reveal that the AgNbO₃ single crystal is in a polar ferroelectric phase at room temperature, clarifying its ground state which is controversial from the AgNbO₃ ceramic materials.

相比AgNbO ₃系陶瓷，在单晶AgNbO的实验研究₃，尤其是基态和铁性结构域的结构，不是在同一水平上。在这里，基于使用助焊剂方法成功合成的AgNbO ₃单晶，我们通过偏光显微镜和压电响应力显微镜的组合研究观察了铁弹性和铁电畴结构的共存。这一发现可能为研究AgNbO ₃提供一个新的方面。结果还表明来自 AgNbO ₃铁电相的弱机电响应，这也得到透射电子显微镜表征的支持。我们的结果表明 AgNbO₃单晶在室温下处于极性铁电相，阐明了其基态，这与 AgNbO ₃陶瓷材料存在争议。