Phase stability and pyroelectricity of antiferroelectric PLZST oxide

Polarization and transmission electron microscopy studies of the Pb0.97La0.02(Zr0.65Sn0.22Ti0.13)O3 (PLZST) ceramics confirmed the antiferroelectric (AFE) nature of this material. The electric-field-induced ferroelectric (FE) phase has a lifetime much longer than the reasonable laboratory time scale at T ≤ 60°C. The observed frequency dispersion of the dielectric constant reflects the competition between AFE and FE orderings. At high temperatures, the induced-FE phase reverses fast to the AFE phase. This process produces a pronounced pyroelectric current. The FE-to-AFE transition temperature can also be tuned by a dc bias field.