Nonlinear piezoelectricity in epitaxial ferroelectrics at high electric fields

Journal Article · Tue Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 2008 · Physical Review Letters

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.100.027604· OSTI ID:931012

Grigoriev, Alexei ^[1]; Sichel, Rebecca ^[1]; Lee, Ho Nyung ^[2]; Landahl, Eric C. ^[3]; Adams, Bernhard ^[3]; Dufresne, Eric M. ^[3]; Evans, Paul G. ^[1]

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1. University of Wisconsin, Madison
2. ORNL
3. Argonne National Laboratory (ANL)

Non-linear effects in the coupling of polarization with elastic strain have been predicted to occur in ferroelectric materials subjected to high electric fields. Such predictions are tested here for a Pb(Zr0.2,Ti0.8)O3 ferroelectric thin film at electric fields in the range of several MV/cm. Thermal runaway and subsequent low-frequency dielectric breakdown are overcome by using nanosecond electrical pulses to apply high electric fields, which made the probing of the film's structure possible at piezoelectric strains reaching up to 2.7%. The piezoelectric strain exceeds predictions based on constant piezoelectric coefficients at electric fields from 2 to 4 MV/cm, which is consistent with a non-linear effect predicted to occur at concomitant piezoelectric distortions. At higher fields, the piezoelectric response decreases, suggesting that elastic interactions between atoms enter a new regime.

• Research Organization: Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL)
• Sponsoring Organization: ORNL LDRD Director's R&D
• DOE Contract Number: AC05-00OR22725
• OSTI ID: 931012
• Journal Information: Physical Review Letters, Journal Name: Physical Review Letters Journal Issue: 2 Vol. 100; ISSN 0031-9007; ISSN PRLTAO
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE
ATOMS
BREAKDOWN
DIELECTRIC MATERIALS
ELECTRIC FIELDS
FERROELECTRIC MATERIALS
PIEZOELECTRICITY
POLARIZATION
STRAINS
THIN FILMS