Paraelectric-ferroelectric interface dynamics induced by latent heat transfer and irreversibility of ferroelectric phase transitions

The temperature gradients that arise in the paraelectric-ferroelectric interface dynamics induced by the latent heat transfer are studied from the point of view that a ferroelectric phase transition is a stationary, thermal-electric coupled transport process. The local entropy production is derived for a ferroelectric phase transition system from the Gibbs equation. Three types of regions in the system are described well by using the Onsager relations and the principle of minimum entropy production. The theoretical results coincides with the experimental ones.

Shape-induced phase transition of vortex domain structures in ferroelectric nanodots and their controllability by electrical and mechanical loads

Shape-induced phase transition of vortex domain structures （VDSs） in BaTiO3 （BT） nanodots under open circuit boundary condition have been investigated using an effective Hamiltonian method. Our calculation indicates the tetragonal VDS missing in cubic BT nanodots can be induced by varying the shape of a nanodot from cube to platelet. Interestingly, a novel VDS is found in BT nanoplatelets in our simulations. Further investigation shows that it is a result of compromise between the ground state and the symmetry of the shape of the nanodot. Furthermore, based on the novel VDS, routes of controlling VDSs governed by homogeneous electric field and uniform stress are discussed. In particular, our results show the possibility of designing multi-states devices based on a single VDS. ~ 2017 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd on behalf of The Chinese Society of Theoretical and Applied Mechanics.

Ferroelectricity in the Ferrimagnetic Phase of Fe1-xMnxV2O4

Ferroelectric and magnetic properties of Fe1-xMnxV2O4 （0 ≤ x ≤ 0.5） spinels are investigated on the basis of dielectric, polarization, and susceptibility measurements. Ferroeleetric polarization is discovered in collinear ferrimagnetic and Yafet-Kittel magnetic phases for 0.1 ≤ x ≤ 0.4, which can be tuned by a magnetic field. As orbital-active FJ＋ is substituted with Mn2＋, ferroeleetric polarization decreases for 0 ≤ x ≤ 0.4 and disappears for x=0.5. We propose that the two polar components in ferroelectric polarization originate from the exchange striction mechanism and the spin-current model, respectively.

Critical exponents of ferroelectric transitions in modulated SrTiO_3:Consequences of quantum fluctuations and quenched disorder

The ferroelectric transitions of several SrTiO3-based ferroelectrics are investigated experimentally and theoretically, with special attention to the critical scaling exponents associated with the phase transitions, in order to understand the competition among quantum fluctuations （QFs）, quenched disorder, and ferroelectric ordering. Two representative systems with sufficiently strong QFs and quenched disorders in competition with the ferroelectric ordering are investigated. We start from non-stoichiometric SrTiO3（STO） with the Sr/Ti ratio deviating slightly from one, which is believed to maintain strong QFs. Then, we address Ba/Ca co-doped Sr1-x（Ca0.6389Ba0.3611）xTiO3（SCBT） with the averaged Sr-site ionic radius identical to the Sr2＋ ionic radius, which is believed to offer remarkable quenched disorder associated with the Sr-site ionic mismatch. The critical exponents associated with polarization P and dielectric susceptibility ε, respectively, as functions of temperature T close to the critical point Tc, are evaluated. It is revealed that both non-stoichiometric SrTiO3 and SCBT exhibit much bigger critical exponents than the Landau mean-field theory predictions. These critical exponents then decrease gradually with increasing doping level or deviation of Sr/Ti ratio from one. A transverse Ising model applicable to the Sr-site doped STO （e.g., Sr1-xCaxTiO3） at low level is used to explain the observed experimental data. It is suggested that the serious deviation of these critical exponents from the Landau theory predictions in these STO-based systems is ascribed to the significant QFs and quenched disorder by partially suppressing the long-range spatial correlation of electric dipoles around the transitions. The present work thus sheds light on our understanding of the critical behaviors of ferroelectric transitions in STO in the presence of quantum fluctuations and quenched disorder, whose effects have been demonstrated to be remarkable.

Kerr effect and Kerr constant enhancement in vertically aligned deformed helix ferroelectric liquid crystals

In this article,we review recently achieved Kerr effect progress in novel liquid crystal（LC） material：vertically aligned deformed helix ferroelectric liquid crystal（VADHFLC）.With an increasing applied electric field,the induced inplane birefringence of LCs shows quadratic nonlinearity.The theoretical calculations and experimental details are illustrated.With an enhanced Kerr constant to 130 nm/V2,this VADHFLC cell can achieve a 2π modulation by a small efficient electric field with a fast response around 100 μs and thus can be employed in both display and photonics devices.

An unconventional phase field modeling of domains formation and evolution in tetragonal ferroelectrics

Based on characteristic functions of variants, we developed an unconventional phase field modeling for investigating domains formation and evolution in tetragonal ferroelectrics. In order to develop this computational approach, we constructed the anisotropy energy of tetragonal variants, which is used instead of Landau-Devonshire potential in the conventional phase field method, resulting in that much fewer parameters are needed for simulations. This approach is advantageous in simulations of emerging ferroelectric materials. We employ it to study the formation and evolution of domains in tetragonal barium titanate single crystal, as well as the nonlinear behaviors under cyclical stress and electric field loading. A multi-rank laminated ferroelectric domain pattern, 90° domain switching accompanied by polarization rotation, and 180° domain switching accompanied by move of domain wall are predicted. It is found that the speed of 90° domain switching is slower than that of 180° domain switching, due to both polarization and transformation strain changed in 90° domain switching. It also suggests that large strain actuation can be generated in single crystal ferroelectrics via combined electromechanical loading inducing 90° domain switching. The good agreement between simulation results and experimental measurements is observed.

Binary perovskite solid solutions and trends in their phase transitions temperatures variation

Some of the known binary ABO_(3)perovskites with ferro-(FE)or antiferroelectric(AFE)at T_(C)and different magnetic phase tran-sitions(PT):ferro-and antiferromagnetic at T_(N)and also some of their solid solutions are considered.Some correlations between their FE or AFE and/or magnetic PTs temperatures,on the one hand,and their interatomic bond A-O strains,on the other hand,have been constructed.It is shown that in the plotted diagrams these temperatures change with a change inδAO values as follows:classical FEs are followed by multiferroics,starting with BiFeO_(3)and ending with YVO_(3),followed by classical AFEs.At the same time,the temperatures T_(C)and T_(N)experience maxima at the corresponding points for BiFeO_(3),then quickly decrease,and the difference between them,T_(C)-T_(N),basically also decreases,slightly increasing along the way to the point EuTiO_(3).which made it possible to systematize these T_(C)and T_(N).

Piezoelectric,ferroelectric and pyroelectric properties of(100−x)Pb(Mg_(1/3)Nb_(2/3))O_(3−x)PbTiO_(3)ceramics

A series of(100−x)Pb(Mg_(1/3)Nb_(2/3))O_(3−x)PbTiO_(3)(PMN−xPT,x=24,25,26)ceramics were prepared by solid-state reaction technique using MgNb_(2)O_(6)precursor.The results of the detailed characterizations reveal that the content of PT has negligible influence on the grain size,and all samples possess the perovskite structure.As the PT content increases,the samples changed from the normal ferroelectric phase to the ergodic relaxor state at room temperature.As a result,PMN-xPT ceramics are endowed with electro-strain of 0.08%at a relatively low electric field of 2 kV/mm,and effective piezoelectric coefficient of 320 pm/V was obtained.Simultaneously,the PMN-xPT ceramics have exceptional pyroelectric performance,exhibiting a high pyroelectric coef-ficient p~5.5-6.3×10^(−8)C·cm^(−2)·K^(−1).This study demonstrates the great potential of PMN-xPT for piezoelectric and pyroelectric device applications.

Phase formation,structure and dielectric properties of ceramics(Na_(0.5)Bi_(0.5))TiO_(3)-(K_(0.5)Na_(0.5))NbO_(3)-BiFeO_(3)

Influence of BiFeO_(3)(BF)on phase formation,unit cell parameters,microstructure,dielectric and ferroelectric properties of solid solutions close to the morphotropic phase boundary in the(Na_(0.5)Bi_(0.5))TiO_(3)–(K_(0.5)Na_(0.5))NbO_(3) system additionally modified by the low-melting KCl additives has been studied.The formation of pure perovskite structure samples decrease in the unit cell parameters and increase in the TC value stimulated by the BF addition have been revealed.It was proved that modification of compositions by small amounts of the BF and KCl additives leads to improvement of dielectric parameters.