Ferroelectricity

What is Ferroelectric?

Ferroelectrics are materials which possess a “spontaneous”

electric polarization Ps which can be reversed by applying a
suitable electric field E.

This process is known as “switching”, and is followed by “hysteresis”.

Ferroelectrics are electrical analogues of “ferromagnetics” (P-E and M-H

relations).
 Ferroelectric Characteristics
Three important characteristics of ferroelectrics:
• Reversible polarization
• “Anomalous” properties (i.e. ferroelectric disappears
above a temperature Tc known as “Curie Point”
• Non-linearities
 Ferroelectric Characteristics
• “Anomalous” properties (i.e. ferroelectric disappears
above a temperature Tc known as “Curie Point”
• Above Tc, the anomaly is frequently of the “ Curie-
Weiss” form: (Curie-Weiss Relation)

 = C / (T-T0)

C ~ Curie-Weiss constant
T0 is called “Curie-Weiss Temperature”
T0 < Tc in materials with first-order transitions
T0 = Tc in materials with second-order transitions

!! Some materials do not follow Curie-Weiss Relation !!

Spontaneous Polarization (Ps) Re-Orientation
Ceramics  a large number of randomly oriented crystallites 
 polarization re-orientation “Poling Process”

Unpoled Poled
Changes in Ps-directions require small ionic movements
 Larger number of possible directions of polar axes 
 Closer to poling direction  Easily poled
Tetragonal 4mm  6 possible polar axes
Rhombohedral 3m  8 possible polar axes
 better alignment (poled)
 Ferroelectric Domains
Ferroelectric Domains = A region with uniform alignment (same direction)
of spontaneous polarization (Ps)
Domain Walls = The interface between the two domains
 very thin ( < a few lattice cells)

A ferroelectric single crystal, when grown, has multiple ferroelectric domains


Applying appropriate electric field

Possible single domain through domain wall motion

Too large electric field

Reversal of the polarization in the domain “domain switching”

Hysteresis Loop
 Ferroelectric Hysteresis Loop
D

Hysteresis Loop
Starting from very small E-field  Linear P-E relationship (OA)
E  leads to domain re-alignment in the positive direction along E
rapid increase in P (OB) until it reaches the saturation value (P sat)
E  results in  P, but NOT all to Zero P as E = 0 (BD) because some domains remain aligned in positive direction
 Remnant OR Remanent Polarization (Pr) 
Certain opposite E is needed to completely depolarize the domain  Coercive Field (Ec)
As E  in negative direction  direction of domains flip
 Hysteresis Loop 
 Spontaneous Polarization (Ps) is obtained through extrapolation 
 Hysteresis Loop is observed by a Sawyer-Tower Circuit 
Ferroelectric Curie Point and Phase Transitions
Curie Point (Tc) = Phase transition temperature between
non-ferroelectric and ferroelectric phases

T < Tc = Ferroelectric Phase

T > Tc = Paraelectric (Non-ferroelectric) Phase

Transition Temperature = Other phase transition temperature

between one ferroelectric phase to another
Ferroelectric Curie Point and Phase Transitions
In most ferroelectrics, r above Curie Point (Tc) obeys
Curie-Weiss Relation

 = 0 + C/(T-T0)

C = Curie-Weiss constant
T0 = Curie-Weiss Temperature
(different from Curie Point Tc)
T0 < Tc for first-order phase transition
T0 = Tc for second-order phase transition

Tc = actual temperature when crystal structure changes

T0 = formula constant obtained by extrapolation
(Usually 0 term is neglected because 0 <<  near T0)
 Ferroelectrics

Properties
• Spontaneous polarization in the absence applied electrical field.
• Extremely high dielectric constant (~500-15,000).
• Strong non-linear dielectric response to an applied electrical field.
• High strain response to applied electrical field  piezoelectricity
• Strong variation in polarization with temperature  pyroelectricity
Hysteresis loop with critical values
• All Ferroelectric materials are Piezoelectric, But all Piezoelectric
materials are not Ferroelectric.

• Ferroelectrics are spontaneously polarised, but are also

piezoelectric, in that their polarisation changes under the influence
of a stress. This is because while all ferroelectrics are piezoelectric,
not all piezoelectrics are ferroelectric.