- Schaab, J;
- Shapovalov, K;
- Schoenherr, P;
- Hackl, J;
- Khan, MI;
- Hentschel, M;
- Yan, Z;
- Bourret, E;
- Schneider, CM;
- Nemsák, S;
- Stengel, M;
- Cano, A;
- Meier, D
Low-temperature X-ray photoemission electron microscopy (X-PEEM) is used to measure the electric potential at domain walls in improper ferroelectric Er0.99Ca0.01MnO3. By combining X-PEEM with scanning probe microscopy and theory, we develop a model that relates the detected X-PEEM contrast to the emergence of uncompensated bound charges, explaining the image formation based on intrinsic electronic domain-wall properties. In contrast to previously applied low-temperature electrostatic force microscopy (EFM), X-PEEM readily distinguishes between positive and negative bound charges at domain walls. Our study introduces an X-PEEM-based approach for low-temperature electrostatic potential mapping, facilitating nanoscale spatial resolution and data acquisition times on the order of 0.1-1 s.