Effect of dc bias on pressure-induced depolarization of Pb(Nb,Zr,Sn,Ti)O3 ceramics

The polarization and depolarization of antiferroelectric Pb(Nb,Zr,Sn,Ti)O(3) (PNZST) ceramics under a dc bias were studied in a hydraulic pressure from 0 to 250 MPa. It is found that the antiferroelectric ceramic can be induced to a metastable ferroelectric state and that the ceramic at this ferroelectric state can be switched to the antiferroelectric state using hydraulic pressure. The hydraulic pressure to induce the transition from the ferroelectric to the antiferroelectric states increases with the positive and decreases with the negative dc bias. Based on the results, the pressure-electric field phase diagram for polarized PNZST ceramics was established. (C) 2008 American Institute of Physics.