Anomalous Polarization Switching Characteristics in a Ferroelectric Heterostructure

Abstract

The polarization switching characteristics of a ferroelectric heterostructure consists of two different ferroelectric films with surface transition layer within each film and a ferroelectric interfacial coupling at the interface between the two films according to Landau–Devonshire theory in combination with Landau–Khalatnikov dynamic equation, as first presented in this work. A parameter β is introduced to describe the differences of physical characteristics between the two constituent films of the ferroelectric heterostructure. We focus on studying the combined influence of parameter β and ferroelectric interfacial coupling on the polarization switching behavior of the system. The evolution with time of polarization, hysteresis loop, and equilibrium action of the ferroelectric coupling ϕ and parameter β are obtained by numerical calculations. The results exhibit some anomalous phenomena.