Electric field and temperature induced local polarization switching and piezoresponse in Bi0.88Sm0.12FeO3 ceramics for nanoscale applications

The fundamental understanding of polarization switching in ferroelectric materials is very critical for the development of ferroelectric devices. Electric field and temperature induced nanoscale polarization switching has been studied in polycrystalline Bi0.88Sm0.12FeO3 ceramics using piezoresponse...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of alloys and compounds 2019-06, Vol.790, p.587-596
Main Authors: Anthoniappen, Jesuraj, Chang, Wei Sea, Ruiz, Flora Mae, Tu, Chi-Shun, Blaise, Carvyn Tutong, Chen, Pin-Yi, Chen, Cheng-Sao, Mana-ay, Haidee
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Amplitudes
Ceramics
Domain switching
Domains
Electric fields
Ferroelectric materials
Ferroelectricity
Nanoscale polarization
Phase coexistence
Phase contrast
Phase transition
Phase transitions
Piezoelectricity
Piezoresponse force microscopy
Polarization
Raman spectra
Switching
Synchrotron radiation
Temperature
Temperature dependence
Transition temperature
X-ray diffraction
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Summary:The fundamental understanding of polarization switching in ferroelectric materials is very critical for the development of ferroelectric devices. Electric field and temperature induced nanoscale polarization switching has been studied in polycrystalline Bi0.88Sm0.12FeO3 ceramics using piezoresponse force microscopy (PFM). High resolution synchrotron X-ray diffraction, Rietveld refinements and micro-Raman spectra indicate the phase coexistence of rhombohedral R3c and orthorhombic PbZrO3-like structures at room temperature. Temperature dependent Raman spectra exhibit nonpolar Pnma phase-like vibrational bands at 175 °C. The PFM amplitude and phase images revealed irregular multi-grain and domain boundaries with oppositely oriented polarizations which are 180° apart in-phase. Step-wise application of negative and positive tip biases indicates that the 109° polarization switching is more favorable at low fields due to large electric and activation energies associated with 180° switching. PFM in-plane (IP) and out-of-plane (OP) images at different temperatures show the 180° domain growth up to 150 °C. The drastic change in the in-plane phase contrast at 175 °C indicates the formation of 71° ferroelastic domains affirming the phase transition. Temperature dependent phase and amplitude measurements exhibit typical hysteresis and butterfly loops below the transition temperature signifying ferroelectric-like piezoelectric behavior. The sudden decrease in the amplitude value at 175 °C supports a phase transition to non-polar phase where piezoeresponse would be nearly zero. However, there exist non-zero piezoresponse regions at 200 °C implying that ferroelectric clusters are embedded in nonpolar phase which make the material ferroelectrically active at nanoscale level. [Display omitted] •Temperature dependent Raman spectra exhibit nonpolar Pnma bands at 175 °C indicating a phase transition.•Step-wise application of tip biases indicates that the 109° switching is more favorable at low fields.•Sudden decrease in piezo amplitude measured at 175 °C affirms the phase transition to non-polar phase.•Non-zero piezoresponse at 200 °C shows that the material is ferroelectrically active at nanoscale level.
ISSN:0925-8388
1873-4669
DOI:10.1016/j.jallcom.2019.03.185