Back-switching of ferroelectric polarization in two-component systems

It is shown by the example of poly(vinylidene fluoride) that back-switching of ferroelectric polarization in two-component systems during short circuiting after initial poling depends on the poling time and exhibits a maximum in samples poled for about 100 mus. The switched back polarization decreases to zero for poling times smaller than 1 mus and times exceeding 1 s. The phenomenon is explained on the basis of a model proposed earlier for polarization buildup in two-component ferroelectrics taking into account the role of conductivity induced interfacial charge accumulation at the boundaries between ferroelectric and nonferroelectric components. (C) 2004 American Institute of Physics.