Effect of space charge on the polarization hysteresis characteristics of monolithic and compositionally graded ferroelectrics

A non-linear thermodynamic analysis of ferroelectric systems with localized space charges for monolithic and compositionally graded materials is described wherein the electrostatic interlayer interactions are specifically accounted for. The electrostatic coupling is established through the built-in polarization due to the space charges and the intrinsic polarization variations between the ferroelectric layers. The findings show that the polarization hysteresis response of monolithic stress-free barium strontium titanate (BST) ferroelectrics with asymmetrically distributed space charges result in a displacement of the hysteresis loop along the applied electric field axis. In compositionally graded BST multilayers, the hysteresis response is characterized by of sets along both the polarization and the electric field axes, yet with magnitudes of displacement that are markedly larger than those for monolithic ferroelectrics. Published by Elsevier Ltd. on behalf of Acta Materialia Inc.