Birefringence induced by antiferroelectric switching in transparent polycrystalline PbZr0.95Ti0.05O3 film
English
Biswas, Pranab[University of Luxembourg > Faculty of Science, Technology and Medicine (FSTM) > Department of Physics and Materials Science (DPHYMS) > ; > 2Inter-institutional Research Group Uni.lu–LIST on Ferroic Materials]
Milesi-Brault, Cosme[Czech Academy of Sciences > Institute of Physics > > ; > Inter-institutional Research Group Uni.lu–LIST on Ferroic Materials]
Martínez, Alfredo Blázquez[Luxembourg Institute of Science & Technology - LIST > Materials Research and Technology Department > > ; > Inter-institutional Research Group Uni.lu–LIST on Ferroic Materials]
Aruchamy, Naveen[Luxembourg Institute of Science & Technology - LIST > Materials Research and Technology Department]
Song, Longfei[Luxembourg Institute of Science & Technology - LIST > Materials Research and Technology Department]
Kovacova, Veronika[Luxembourg Institute of Science & Technology - LIST > Materials Research and Technology Department, > > ; > Inter-institutional Research Group Uni.lu–LIST on Ferroic Materials]
Glinšek, Sebastjan[Luxembourg Institute of Science & Technology - LIST > Materials Research and Technology Department > > ; > Inter-institutional Research Group Uni.lu–LIST on Ferroic Materials]
Granzow, Torsten[Luxembourg Institute of Science & Technology - LIST > Materials Research and Technology Department, > > ; > Inter-institutional Research Group Uni.lu–LIST on Ferroic Materials]
Defay, Emmanuel[Luxembourg Institute of Science & Technology - LIST > Materials Research and Technology Department, > > ; > Inter-institutional Research Group Uni.lu–LIST on Ferroic Materials]
Guennou, Mael[University of Luxembourg > Faculty of Science, Technology and Medicine (FSTM) > Department of Physics and Materials Science (DPHYMS) > ; > Inter-institutional Research Group Uni.lu–LIST on Ferroic Materials]
[en] The most characteristic functional property of antiferroelectric materials is the possibility to induce a phase transition from a nonpolar to a polar phase by an electric field. Here, we investigate the effect of this field-induced phase transition on the birefringence change of PbZr0.95Ti0.05O3. We use a transparent polycrystalline PbZr0.95Ti0.05O3 film grown on PbTiO3/HfO2/SiO2 with interdigitated electrodes to directly investigate changes in birefringence in a simple transmission geometry. In spite of the polycrystalline nature of the film and its moderate thickness, the field-induced transition produces a sizable effect observable under a polarized microscope. The film in its polar phase is found to behave like a homogeneous birefringent medium. The time evolution of this field-induced birefringence provides information about irreversibilities in the antiferroelectric switching process and its slow dynamics. The change in birefringence has two main contributions: One that responds briskly and a slower one that rises and saturates over a period of as long as 30 min. Possible origins for this long saturation and relaxation times are discussed.
Luxembourg Institute of Science & Technology - LIST ; University of Luxembourg
Luxembourgish National Research Fund (INTER/ANR/16/11562984/EXPAND and C16/MS/11348912/Guennou “BIAFET”). ; Luxembourgish National Research Fund (FNR-PRIDE/15/10935404 “MASSENA”). ; Luxembourgish National Research Fund under the project PACE (Photovoltaics: Advanced Concepts for high Efficiency, PRIDE/17/12246511/PACE). ; Operational Programme Research, Development, and Education (financed by European Structural and Investment Funds and by the Czech Ministry of Education, Youth, and Sports), Project No. SOLID21-CZ.02.1.01/0.0/0.0/16_019/0000760.
Researchers ; Professionals ; Students ; General public ; Others