Anomalous dielectric after-effect in ferroelectric KH2PO4

TL;DR

This paper reports a unique low-temperature dielectric after-effect in KH2PO4, revealing interactions between point defects and microdomains, which differ from typical glassy effects and provide insights into slow dynamics in ferroelectrics.

Contribution

It identifies a novel anomalous after-effect in KH2PO4 near 8 K, attributed to domain wall movements involving H-bond reversals, expanding understanding of defect-domain interactions.

Findings

Distinct stretched exponential relaxation near 8 K

Interaction between point defects and microdomains

Similar effects observed in other H-bond ferroelectrics

Abstract

Dielectric permittivity of KH2PO4 single crystals and pressed powders was measured in the presence of dc electric bias fields. Usually if the bias was switched at time t = 0, real and imaginary permittivity jumped to new values then decreased as logt . This well-known 'glassy' effect is attributed to switchable microdomains that are present accidentally in single crystals but are systematically more numerous in powders. A very different after-effect was observed in a narrow T range around 7-8 K. Real permittivity jumped to a lower value then increased with t as a stretched exponential with a T-dependent time constant. This lay near the Arrhenius law of a known, but unassigned dispersion. Such a dispersion is a typical effect of a point defect at low concentration in a crystal, and is here attributed to the elementary movement of a domain wall, consisting of a single H-bond reversal. The anomalous after-effect results from the interaction between these point defects and the microdomain system. Several other H-bond ferroelectrics exhibited similar effects. They offer an opportunity to study 'glassy' and 'crystalline' slow dynamic effects that coexist and interact.