Fatigue effect on polarization switching dynamics in polycrystalline bulk ferroelectrics

TL;DR

This paper enhances the Inhomogeneous Field Mechanism model to analyze fatigue effects on polarization switching in polycrystalline ferroelectrics, revealing different degradation mechanisms through experimental data.

Contribution

The study extends the IFM model to include non-switchable regions, enabling detailed analysis of fatigue-induced property changes in ferroelectric ceramics.

Findings

Different fatigue mechanisms identified in lead-based and lead-free ceramics

Model successfully captures the impact of fatigue on switching dynamics

Insights into degradation processes at the microscopic level

Abstract

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.