Electric-field-induced paraelectric to ferroelectric phase transformation in prototypical polycrystalline BaTiO{sub 3}

• Published in: Applied physics letters 2014-10, Vol.105 (16)
• Main Authors: Wang, Zhiyang, Hinterstein, Manuel, Daniels, John E., Webber, Kyle G., Hudspeth, Jessica M.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: ACTUATORS; BARIUM COMPOUNDS; CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND SUPERFLUIDITY; CURIE POINT; ELECTRIC FIELDS; FERROELECTRIC MATERIALS; PHASE TRANSFORMATIONS; POLYCRYSTALS; STRAINS; SYNCHROTRON RADIATION; TEXTURE; TITANATES; TRANSFORMATIONS; X-RAY DIFFRACTION
• ISSN: 0003-6951; 1077-3118
• DOI: 10.1063/1.4898573

An electric-field-induced paraelectric cubic to ferroelectric tetragonal phase transformation has been directly observed in prototypical polycrystalline BaTiO{sub 3} at temperatures above the Curie point (T{sub C}) using in situ high-energy synchrotron X-ray diffraction. The transformation persisted to a maximum temperature of 4 °C above T{sub C}. The nature of the observed field-induced transformation and the resulting development of domain texture within the induced phase were dependent on the proximity to the transition temperature, corresponding well to previous macroscopic measurements. The transition electric field increased with increasing temperature above T{sub C}, while the magnitude of the resultant tetragonal domain texture at the maximum electric field (4 kV mm{sup −1}) decreased at higher temperatures. These results provide insights into the phase transformation behavior of a prototypical ferroelectric and have important implications for the development of future large-strain phase-change actuator materials.