Electric fatigue in antiferroelectric ceramics induced by bipolar electric cycling

The fatigue behavior of antiferroelectric lanthanum-doped lead zirconate stannate titanate bulk material induced by bipolar cycling was investigated. Strain and polarization hysteresis loops, acoustic emissions (AEs), and biaxial strength were monitored. The material showed a high resistance to electric fatigue, concerning the losses in maximum strain, switchable polarization, and biaxial strength as well as modifications of AE patterns and microstructure. Fatigue microcracking is weak in the material during cycling. The pinning of antiferroelectric and ferroelectric domains by point defect agglomeration is discussed as the main fatigue mechanism. A diffuse antiferroelectric-ferroelectric phase transition and an asymmetry of the strain hysteresis loop due to the electric cycling are described and explained as a result of the pinning process and offset polarization. (c) 2006 American Institute of Physics.