Ferroelectric domain structure and local piezoelectric properties of La-modified PbTiO3 thin films prepared by pulsed laser deposition

La-modified PbTiO3 (PLT) thin films of different composition (Pb1-3x/2LaxTiO3 , x=0.15 and 0.20) were characterized by Piezoresponse Force Microscopy (PFM). 001/100-textured films were deposited on (111)Pt/TiO2/SiO2/(100)Si by Pulsed Laser Deposition (PLD). The spontaneous polarization domain structure was correlated with the grain microstructure and orientation texture. The area ratio between the 001 and -001 antiparallel polarization domains was estimated. Additionally, the local piezoelectric behavior in PLT (x=0.15) films was characterized.