Can an Electric Field Induce an Antiferroelectric Phase Out of a Ferroelectric Phase?

Thermal analysis of phase transitions in perovskite electroceramics

“…Lead-based antiferroelectrics that demonstrate a remarkably high energy storage density have been developed in the effort to bridge the gap between power density and energy density [2][3][4]. This is achieved through a reversible electrically induced phase transition between an antiferroelectric phase and a ferroelectric phase, resulting in the sudden development of high electrical polarization at the critical field of the phase transition [5][6][7][8][9][10][11]. During unloading of the capacitor, a large amount of electrical energy is released as the dielectric material reverts to an antiferroelectric state [2][3][4].…”

Antiferroelectricity induced by electric field in NaNbO3-based lead-free ceramics

“…Most surprisingly, it has been experimentally demonstrated in these lead-containing ceramics that the induced ferroelectric phase transforms to an antiferroelectric phase under the coercive field with a reversed polarity. 12 In this Letter, we report the formation of an antiferroelectric phase out of a ferroelectric phase in a NaNbO 3 -based lead-free ceramic. NaNbO 3 is a perovskite compound known for its complex structures and phase transitions.…”

“…Exposure to a strong electric field transforms the ceramic into a metastable ferroelectric phase. Following the observations we recently made on lead-containing ceramics, 12 the existence of a metastable ferroelectric phase suggests that NaNbO 3 -based ceramics are ideal to demonstrate the electric-field-induced antiferroelectricity in lead-free compounds.…”

“…11 Recently, it has been reported that some chemically modified PbZrO 3 -based ceramics can exist either in the antiferroelectric or ferroelectric state at room temperature, depending on their thermal history. 9,10,12 In these ceramics, the electric-field-induced ferroelectric phase is metastable and is sustained after the applied field is removed. Most surprisingly, it has been experimentally demonstrated in these lead-containing ceramics that the induced ferroelectric phase transforms to an antiferroelectric phase under the coercive field with a reversed polarity.…”

Enhanced piezoelectricity and nature of electric-field induced structural phase transformation in textured lead-free piezoelectric Na0.5Bi0.5TiO3-BaTiO3 ceramics

“…1 Such behaviors find applications in many devices such as sensors and actuators. 2 Relaxor-based piezoelectric single crystals have been widely investigated with regard to electric (E)-field-induced phase transitions that result in large strains.…”