Novel complex phenomena in ferroelectric nanocomposites

A first-principles-based effective Hamiltonian is used to investigate finite-temperature properties of ferroelectric nanocomposites made of periodic arrays of ferroelectric nanowires embedded in a matrix formed by another ferroelectric material. Novel transitions and features related to flux-closure configurations are found. Examples include (i)?a vortex core transition, that is characterized by the change of the vortex cores from being axisymmetric to exhibiting a 'broken symmetry'; (ii)?translational mode of the vortex cores; (iii)?striking zigzag dipolar chains along the vortex core axis; and (iv)?phase-locking of ferroelectric vortices accompanied by ferroelectric antivortices. These complex phenomena are all found to coexist with a spontaneous electrical polarization aligned along the normal of the plane containing the vortices.     

Novel glass-forming ferroelectric liquid-crystal material of high second-order nonlinearity

We report on a novel ferroelectric liquid-crystal material with an exceptionally large and stable nonlinear optical response. The material shows a phase transition from theSmC* mesophase to the glassy state near room temperature. This allowed us to state-freeze a stable nonlinear optically active configuration close to room temperature at 10° C for one day. The stored orientations can easily be forced to relax back by heating slightly above the glass-transition temperature. The material and the freezing process have been characterized in detail by analyzing the frequency-doubling process of the fundamental radiation of a Nd: YAG laser in the liquid crystal. Under favourable conditions, we obtained second-order susceptibilities as large as _zzz = 0.5 pm/V.     

Novel properties and applications in magnetic fluids

In this review, we will report a series of investigations on the homemade homogeneous magnetic fluids. The most spectacular property discussed in our research is the ordered structure of the magnetic columns formed in the magnetic fluid thin film under the influence of the external magnetic field, either perpendicular or parallel to the film surface. It is worth noting that the ordered structure can be manipulated by changing the control parameters. This reveals the variability of the ordered structure. With the ordered structures, some significant magneto-optical characteristics such as magnetochromatics, birefringence, and field-dependent transmittance are generated. These optical properties form the groundwork for further development of related optical devices by using the homogeneous magnetic fluid films.     

Enhancement of dielectric and ferroelectric properties in ferroelectric superlattices

I studied theoretically the enhancement of remanent polarization and dielectric permittivity of interfacial-coupled ferroelectric superlattices based on the Landau–Ginzburg theory. Our model adopts the Landau–Khalatnikov equation to describe hysteresis behavior and takes the time-dependent space-charge-limited conductivity into account to investigate the ferroelectric and dielectric properties of ferroelectric superlattices. The results are in good agreement with recent experimental observations on the enhancement of remanent polarization and permittivity of BaTiO₃/SrTiO₃ superlattices and heterolayered Pb(Zr,Ti)O₃ thin films.     

Novel features of Sr1-xCaxTiO3 phase diagram: evidence for competing antiferroelectric and ferroelectric interactions

Structural and dielectric evidences are advanced to show that the Sr1-xCaxTiO3 (SCT) system undergoes an antiferroelectric (AFE) phase transition in the composition range 0.18相似文献   

Divide line between relaxor,diffused ferroelectric,ferroelectric and dielectric

The dielectric spectroscopic studies of relaxor ferroelectric Ba(Ti_0.70Sn_0.30)O₃ (BTS30), diffused ferroelectric Ba(Ti_0.70Sn_0.20)O₃ (BTS20), classical ferroelectric BaTiO₃ (BT0), and normal dielectric Ba(Fe_0.50Ta_0.50O₃) (BFT) were carried out in the temperatures ～100 K–650 K, and frequencies ～100 Hz–1 MHz, which showed relaxor behavior at 130 K with typical 30 K frequency dispersion, perfect diffused ferroelectric character at 190 K, classical ferroelectric, and dielectric relaxation at 450 K–550 K respectively. A divide line was sketched between the relaxors, ferroelectrics and normal dielectrics based on the Maxwell–Wagner space charge model. The impedance spectroscopy and ac conductivity spectroscopy were carried out to explain the relaxor and pseudo relaxor behavior.     

Intrinsic ferroelectric coercive field

The Landau-Ginzburg theory of ferroelectricity predicts the intrinsic coercive field for polarization reversal, but the observed extrinsic coercive field is always much smaller as a result of nucleation, dynamic processes not covered by the static theory. We have realized the intrinsic coercive field for the first time, in two-dimensional Langmuir-Blodgett polymer films as thin as 1 nm. The measured coercive field is in good agreement with the theoretical intrinsic value, exhibits the expected dependence on temperature, and does not depend on thickness below 15 nm.     

Porous silicon-based ferroelectric nanostructures

A procedure is suggested for the preparation of porous silicon-based ferroelectric nanostructures. It is demonstrated that the method of chemical deposition from solutions provides for the penetration of the initial components of the solution into the matrix pores, and subsequent annealing leads to the crystallization of the ferroelectric phase. The diagnostics of the ferroelectric properties is performed using the method of generation of second optical harmonic. The spectral characteristics of the prepared ferroelectric nanostructures are investigated.     

Nonchiral ferroelectric smectic-C films

Free-standing films of nonchiral liquid crystal compound are studied by optical reflectivity measurements. The existence of macroscopic ferroelectric properties and orientation of the tilt plane parallel to an electric field in the temperature range above the smectic-C-smectic-A bulk transition is demonstrated. Pis’ma Zh. éksp. Teor. Fiz. 67, No. 10, 808–813 (25 May 1998)     

Mechanoluminescence of ferroelectric crystals

Mechanoluminescence spectra of triglycine sulfate, guanidine aluminium sulfate, rochelle salt, diglycine manganous chloride dihydrate, lithium ammonium tartate monohydrate and potassium dihydrogen phosphate crystals resemble the discharge spectra of nitrogen gases. Glycine silver nitrate, thiourea, ammonium sulfate and azobenzene crystals, the structure of which is centrosymmetric at room temperature, do not show mechanoluminescence. Following the role of crystal structure, the mechanoluminescence excitation is discussed on the basis of the piezo-electrification of the new surfaces created during fracture of the crystals.     

Evolution of domain processes during the transition from classical ferroelectric to relaxor ferroelectric

Dependences of the relative permittivity on the external bias electric field of ceramics of the yPZN-mPMN-nPNN-xPT (x = 0.25?C0.40) system have been studied. The evolution of domain processes during the concentration transition from classical ferroelectric to relaxor ferroelectric has been shown. Tentative conclusions on the mechanisms of electric field-induced transitions from the relaxor state to the ??normal?? ferroelectric state have been drawn.     

Transport properties of a ferroelectric tunnel junction in bilayer ferroelectric/manganite structures

This paper presents the results of an experimental investigation of current flow through a ferroelectric nanolayer in a series of bilayer ferroelectric/manganite structures prepared by metalorganic aerosol deposition on a MgO substrate. It has been shown that a variation in the thickness of the ferroelectric layer in a bilayer ferroelectric/manganite structure leads to a change in the metal-insulator phase transition temperature of the manganite layer and also affects the transport properties of the ferroelectric/manganite structure. Based on the analysis of the experimental results, it is demonstrated that the ferroelectric layer up to 4 nm thick exhibits polarization properties. In the theoretical analysis, it is assumed that electrical conduction of bilayer structures is provided by a dual mechanism combining the electron tunneling through a ferroelectric barrier and the ohmic current flow in a manganite layer. The possibility of retaining the mechanism of charge carrier tunneling in a bilayer ferroelectric/manganite structure through the ferroelectric layer up to 6 nm thick is discussed.     

Strain-induced ferroelectric phase transitions in incipient ferroelectric rutile TiO2

Uniaxial strain induced ferroelectric phase transitions in rutile TiO₂ are investigated by first-principles calculations. The calculated results show that the in-plane tensile strain induces rutile TiO₂, paraelectric phase with P_4-2/mnm (D_4h) space group, to a ferroelectric phase with P_m (C_s) space group,driven by the softening behaviour of the E_u1 mode. In addition, the out-of-plane tensile strain, vertical to the ab plane, leads to a ferroelectric phase with P_42nm (C_4v) space group, driven by the softening behaviour of the A_2u mode. The critical tensile strains are 3.7% in-plane and 4.0% out-of-plane, respectively. In addition, the in-plane compression strain, which has the same structure variation as out-of-plane tensile strain due to Poisson effect, leads the paraelectric rutile TiO₂ to a paraelectric phase with P_nnm (D_2h) space group driven by the softening behaviour of the B_1g mode. These results indicate that the sequence ferroelectric (or paraelectric) phase depends on the strain applied. The origin of ferroelectric stabilization in rutile TiO₂ is also discussed briefly in terms of strain induced Born effective charge transfer.     

Proton conductivity and ferroelectric phase transition in hydrogen-bonded ferroelectric NH4IO3

We report on the ac dielectric permittivity (ε) and the electric conductivity (σ_ω), as function of the temperature 300?K?T4IO₃. The main feature of our measured parameters is that, the compound undergoes a ferroelectric phase transition of an improper character, at (368?±?1)K from a high temperature paraelectric phase I (Pm2₁ b) to a low temperature ferroelectric phase II (Pc21n). The electric conduction seems to be protonic. The frequency dependent conductivity has a linear response following the universal power law (σ_{( ω )}?=?A(T)ω ^{s (T)}). The temperature dependence of the frequency exponent s suggests the existence of two types of conduction mechanisms.     

Determining the influence of ferroelectric polarization on electrical characteristics in organic ferroelectric field-effect transistors

Organic ferroelectric field-effect transistors(OFeFETs) are regarded as a promising technology for low-cost flexible memories. However, the electrical instability is still a critical obstacle, which limits the commercialization process. Based on already established models for polarization in ferroelectrics and charge transport in OFeFETs, simulation work is performed to determine the influence of polarization fatigue and ferroelectric switching transient on electrical characteristics in OFeFETs. The polarization fatigue results in the decrease of the on-state drain current and the memory window width and thus degrades the memory performance. The output measurements during the ferroelectric switching process show a hysteresis due to the instable polarization. In the on/off measurements, a large writing/erasing pulse frequency weakens the polarization modulation and thus results in a small separation between on- and off-state drain currents. According to the electrical properties of the ferroelectric layer, suggestions are given to obtain optimal electrical characterization for OFeFETs.     

Coulomb microexplosions of ferroelectric ceramics

Energetic neutral and extreme ultraviolet emission initiated by the dense plasma propagation along a ferroelectric surface has been found. It was shown that the emission of neutrals is characterized by a large divergence and velocities up to 7 x 10(7) cm/s. This phenomenon is explained by an extremely large electric field with amplitude > or =10(6) V/cm and rise time approximately 10(-10) s which appears at the plasma front due to the fast fall in the driving pulse. This electric field causes microexplosions of the ferroelectric surface due to inertia in the ion polarization response.     

The state of ferroelectric physics

Conclusions It can be concluded from this review that ferroelectric physics is one of the actively expanding branches of solid-state physics. The concepts of states related to the ferroelectric one, e.g., the ferroelastic state, have broadened significantly. Within this field successful studies are being performed of such general questions as phase transitions, subsystem interactions, i.e., the interaction of different quasiparticles, and other nonlinear processes. In ferroelectric semiconductors the interaction of charge carriers with spontaneous polarization is being studied, while in Seignette ferromagnetics the interaction of magnetic and electric subsystems is under investigation. Nonlinear phenomena are given special study in the phase transition region.A number of new interesting phenomena have been discovered in ferroelectric studies recently: phonon echo, photovoltaic effect, autolocalization of charge carriers in the phase transition region, etc. Many new classes of ferroelectrics have been discovered, thus demonstrating the broad extent of the ferroelectric state in nature. Apparently, certain organic compounds and liquid crystals may be classified as ferroelectrics. Results of ferroelectric studies are widely used in the national economy.Translated from Izvestiya Vysshikh Uchebnykh Zavedenii, Fizika, No. 1, pp. 5–39, January, 1979.     

铁电薄膜的多外场调控

铁电薄膜在非易失随机存储器、压电器件、热释电器件和电光器件中有着广泛的应用。由于极化—晶格—电荷自由度的强烈耦合,铁电薄膜的特性不仅可以被电场调控,也可以被多种其他外场调控。文章分别阐述了电场、力场和光场对铁电薄膜极化和导电特性的调控作用及物理机制,并展示了电驱动、机械驱动和光驱动等新型铁电器件的应用潜力。多种外场的调控作用可以突破传统电场调控在电路接入和击穿、漏电等失效行为方面的限制,为铁电器件的设计提供新思路。