No Arabic abstract
Early work by the author with Prof. Ishibashi [Scott et al., J. Appl. Phys. 64, 787 (1988)] showed that switching kinetics in ferroelectrics satisfy a constraint on current transients compatible with d = 2.5 dimensionality. At that time with no direct observations of the domains, it was not possible to conclude whether this was a true Hausdorff dimension or a numerical artefact caused by an approximation in the theory (which ignored the dependence of domain wall velocity upon domain diameter). Recent data suggest that the switching dimensionality is truly fractal with d = 2.5. The critical exponent beta characterizing the order parameter P(T) can be written as a continuous function of dimension d as beta(d)= [ u(d)/2] [d+eta(d)-2], which is exact within hyperscaling; here u and eta are the exponents characterizing the pair correlation function G(r,T) and the structure factor S(q,T). For d=2.5 the estimate is that beta is approximately 1/4.
We analyze theoretically the finite-temperature polarization dynamic in displacive-type ferroelectrics. In particular we consider the thermally-activated switching time of a single-domain ferroelectric polarization studied by means of the Landau-Khalatnikov equation, extended as to capture thermal fluctuations. The results are compared with the switching time formula that follows from the analytical solution of Pauli master equations. In a second step we focus on the phase diagram of a prototypical ferroelectric as described by the temperature-dependent Landau-Devonshire model including thermal fluctuations. Our simulations show the emergence of phase instability at reduced sizes which we attribute to thermal fluctuations in the order parameter in the respective phase. We conclude that, along with the temperature-dependent potential coefficients, thermal fluctuations should be taken into account to achieve a comprehensive description of the thermal behavior of reduced-size ferroelectrics. To endorse our conclusions, we simulated the electric-field activated switching time for a multi-domain system and compared the results to the predictions of well-established models such as the Kolmogorov-Avrami-Ishibashi.
Consecutive stochastic 90{deg} polarization switching events, clearly resolved in recent experiments, are described by a new nucleation and growth multi-step model. It extends the classical Kolmogorov-Avrami-Ishibashi approach and includes possible consecutive 90{deg}- and parallel 180{deg}-switching events. The model predicts the results of simultaneous time-resolved macroscopic measurements of polarization and strain, performed on a tetragonal Pb(Zr,Ti)O3 ceramic in a wide range of electric fields over a time domain of five orders of the magnitude. It allows the determination of the fractions of individual switching processes, their characteristic switching times, activation fields, and respective Avrami indices.
We investigated domain kinetics by measuring the polarization switching behaviors of polycrystalline Pb(Zr,Ti)O$_{3}$ films, which are widely used in ferroelectric memory devices. Their switching behaviors at various electric fields and temperatures could be explained by assuming the Lorentzian distribution of domain switching times. We viewed the switching process under an electric field as a motion of the ferroelectric domain through a random medium, and we showed that the local field variation due to dipole defects at domain pinning sites could explain the intriguing distribution.
Statistical distribution of switching times is a key information necessary to describe the dynamic response of a polycrystalline bulk ferroelectric to an applied electric field. The Inhomogeneous Field Mechanism (IFM) model offers a useful tool which allows extraction of this information from polarization switching measurements over a large time window. In this paper, the model was further developed to account for the presence of non-switchable regions in fatigued materials. Application of the IFM- analysis to bipolar electric cycling induced fatigue process of various lead-based and lead-free ferroelectric ceramics reveals different scenarios of property degradation. Insight is gained into different underlying fatigue mechanisms inherent to the investigated systems.
In this study, we carry out density functional theory calculations to elucidate the polarization switching mechanism in charge-order-induced ferroelectrics. Based on the investigations about (SrVO$_3$)$_1$(LaVO$_3$)$_1$ superlattice, we demonstrate that the charge ordering state couples strongly to lattice modes, and charge-transfer induced polarization switching has to be associated with changes of lattice distortions. Based on the type of lattice mode strongly coupled to charge ordering states, we classify the charge ordering materials in two type, namely polyhedral breathing and off-centering displacement types. We further demonstrate that only in off-centering displacement type charger ordering material, the polarization is switchable under an external field. The implications of this theory to experimental observations are also discussed and we successfully explain the different electrical behaviors in LuFe$_2$O$_4$ and Fe$_3$O$_4$. This study aims to provide guidance for searching and designing charge ordering ferroelectrics with switchable polarization.