Pyroelectricity in highly stressed quasi-amorphous thin films

Quasi-amorphous BaTiO3 thin films (see Figure) represent a polar ionic solid without spatial periodicity. Most probably, polarity of the quasi-amorphous BaTiO3 is associated with directional ordering of crystal motifs formed in the steep temperature gradient and stabilized by high in-plane mechanical stress. A remarkable characteristic of quasi-amorphous BaTiO3 is expression of strong pyro-and piezoelectric effects in a low dielectric constant material.