Effect of external fields on the switching current in PZT ferroelectric ceramics

• Published in: Solid state communications 2010, Vol.150 (1), p.101-103
• Main Authors: Nie, Heng Chang, Chen, Xue Feng, Feng, Ning Bo, Wang, Gen Shui, Dong, Xian Lin, Gu, Yan, He, Hong Liang, Liu, Yu Sheng
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: A. Ferroelectrics; Condensed matter: electronic structure, electrical, magnetic, and optical properties; D. Domain switching; Dielectrics, piezoelectrics, and ferroelectrics and their properties; Exact sciences and technology; Ferroelectricity and antiferroelectricity; Physics; Switching phenomena
• ISSN: 0038-1098; 1879-2766
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ssc.2009.09.042

The dependence of a switching current in lead zirconate titanate (PZT) ferroelectric ceramics on the temperature and an applied electrical field was investigated. It was found that temperature has a moderate contribution to the switching current values, but applied electric fields have significant effects on the values. Importantly, a relaxation of switching current on frequency was observed through this method. By a comparison investigation on PZT ceramics of different compositions non- 18 0 ∘ domain switching was found to be responsible for the relaxation. A function, the ‘active potential of domains’ was proposed to interpret the observed results from the viewpoint of energy. The results obtained provide a new understanding of domain process in ferroelectric ceramics that relaxation of domains is a collective motion of non- 18 0 ∘ domains.