Scanning electron-beam dielectric microscopy for the investigation of the temperature coefficient distribution of dielectric ceramics

Studies on scanning electron-beam dielectric microscopy are reported. This microscopy technique is used for determining the temperature coefficient distribution of dielectric materials using an electron beam as a heat source instead of a light beam as in photothermal dielectric microscopy. This microscopy technique, which has the ability to simultaneously observe SEM images and the material composition by EPMA, has a resolution better than that of photothermal dielectric microscopy. To demonstrate the usefulness of this technique, the two-dimensional image of a two-phase composite ceramic composed of TiO₂ and Bi₂Ti₄O₁₁ is measured.