Origin of Depolarization in Sol-Gel Ferroelectric Pb(Zr_0.4Ti_0.6)O₃ Thin-Film Capacitors

Abstract

We evaluated depolarization characteristics of sol-gel Pb(Zr0.4Ti0.6)O3 ferroelectric thin-film capacitors. The depolarization characteristics were strongly dependent upon the capacitance of the load capacitor. The newly obtained hysteresis loop during the pulse response indicates that significant voltage of opposite direction is generated on the ferroelectric capacitor at the moment the read pulse becomes zero. We experimentally found that the mechanism of depolarization is based on depoling (or partial switching) by an opposite-direction voltage arising from accumulated switching charge on a load capacitor. This mechanism can be easily extended to the internal depolarization effect due to the interfacial linear capacitor between the ferroelectric region and electrode.

Bipolar Fatigue Caused by Field Screening in Pb(Zr,Ti)O3 Ceramics

“…The most severe effect of bipolar fatigue is a decrease of the switchable polarization upon repeated cycling. [7][8][9][10] Several mechanisms of bipolar fatigue have been proposed in the literature. They include domain wall pinning (or frozen domains), [11][12][13] where domains do not take part in the switching process any more; the formation of a dead layer underneath the electrodes, 14 which influences for example the domain nucleation process 15 ; or mechanical degradation of the sample.…”

Ferroelectric Thin Films of Bismuth‐Containing Layered Perovskites: Part I, Bi4Ti3O12

“…3 Lead zirconate titanate (PZT) ferroelectric thin films on Pt/Si substrates suffer from serious loss of switchable polarization after 10 7 cycles. 4,5 This has prompted the search for alternative ferroelectric materials that have a better fatigue resistance.…”

A phenomenological cohesive model of ferroelectric fatigue

“…Corresponding experimental data for smooth tetragonal PZT samples [39,1,40] are shown in Fig. 4(b) for purposes of comparison.…”