Polarization switching anomaly near the morphotropic phase boundary in Pb(Zr1-xTix)O-3 ferroelectric thin films

Abstract

Switching current transients of Pb(Zr1-xTix)O-3 thin films are measured for x = 0.46, 0.48, and 0.49 near the morphotropic phase boundary (MPB) region as a function of temperature from 80 K to 600 K. The maximum peaks of the switching current density at different driving fields, obtained from the switching current transients, are fitted well by an empirical law of Metz. The maximum switching current density in the infinite field limit exhibits a plateau temperature dependence across a phase transition near the MPB (the MPB phase transition) unlike a normal ferroelectric transition dependence of spontaneous polarization.