This image represents a visual depiction of ferroelectric domains within a crystalline material. The vibrant colours can help illustrate properties such as variations in polarisation or electric field distributions across the ferroelectric crystal.

In ferroelectric materials, domains refer to regions where electric polarisation is uniformly oriented. These domains can change shape and orientation in response to external electric fields. By mapping ferroelectric domains, researchers can gain insights into the fundamental behaviours of ferroelectric materials and develop applications for memory devices, sensors, and actuators at the nanoscale.

The image was captured using piezoresponse force microscopy (PFM), a technique that has been widely adopted for the visualisation of ferroelectric domain structures within crystalline materials. "Piezoresponse" refers to the reaction or response of materials when subjected to mechanical pressure or stress that generates an electric charge.

Dr Leng was the winner of a Croucher Tak Wah Mak Innovation Award in 2023 and is currently an assistant professor at Hong Kong Polytechnic University.