Polarization-based adjustable memory behavior in relaxor ferroelectrics

The irreversible decay of the spontaneous polarization above the phase-transition temperature is a limiting factor in any application of ferroelectric crystals. Here we show that electric fields applied at high temperatures induce a preferred direction in the crystal which is stable even after repeated heating and cooling through the phase transition. This preference in direction leads to a reorientation of domains in the ferroelectric phase. We use pyroelectric measurements to show that the directional preference originates from internal charge carriers interacting with domain walls.