Layer thickness and period as design parameters to tailor pyroelectric properties in ferroelectric superlattices

Journal Article · Mon Oct 27 00:00:00 EDT 2014 · Applied Physics Letters

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.4900940· OSTI ID:22310667

Kesim, M. T. ^[1]; Alpay, S. P. ^[1]

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1. Department of Materials Science and Engineering and Institute of Materials Science, University of Connecticut, Storrs, Connecticut 06269 (United States)

We theoretically examine the pyroelectric properties of ferroelectric-paraelectric superlattices as a function of layer thickness and configuration using non-linear thermodynamics coupled with electrostatic and electromechanical interactions between layers. We specifically study PbZr{sub 0.3}Ti{sub 0.7}O{sub 3}/SrTiO{sub 3} superlattices. The pyroelectric properties of such constructs consisting of relatively thin repeating units are shown to exceed the pyroelectric response of monolithic PbZr{sub 0.3}Ti{sub 0.7}O{sub 3} films. This is related to periodic internal electric fields generated due to the polarization mismatch between layers that allows tailoring of the shift in the transition temperature. Our results indicate that higher and electric field sensitive pyroresponse can be achieved from layer-by-layer engineered ferroelectric heterostructures.

• OSTI ID: 22310667
• Journal Information: Applied Physics Letters, Vol. 105, Issue 17; Other Information: (c) 2014 AIP Publishing LLC; Country of input: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA); ISSN 0003-6951
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS
SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND SUPERFLUIDITY
CONFIGURATION
ELECTRIC FIELDS
FERROELECTRIC MATERIALS
FILMS
INTERACTIONS
LAYERS
LEAD COMPOUNDS
NONLINEAR PROBLEMS
PERIODICITY
POLARIZATION
STRONTIUM TITANATES
SUPERLATTICES
THERMODYNAMICS
THICKNESS
TITANATES
TRANSITION TEMPERATURE
ZIRCONIUM COMPOUNDS