Polarization-electric field relations of ferroelectric/antiferroelectric layered ceramics in Pb(Nb, Zr, Sn, Ti)O3 system

Ferroelectric/antiferroelectric bi-layer ceramics with different ferroelectric and antiferroelectric phase thickness ratio (FE/AFE thickness ratio) in Pb(Nb, Zr, Sn, Ti)O₃ system were prepared and characterized. With increasing the maximum external electric field from 0 to 40 kV/cm, polarization-electric field relation was always ferroelectric-like or underwent an antiferroelectric-ferroelectric transition, depending on the FE/AFE thickness ratio. All layered ceramics showed ferroelectric-like hysteresis loops with maximum external electric field of 40 kV/cm, and much higher remanent polarizations were attained than those of the ferroelectric/antiferroelectric heterostructures reported previously.