Polarization Switching of PZT under Electrical Field via in-situ Synchrotron X-ray Absorption Spectroscopy

• Published in: Ferroelectrics Vol. 492; no. 1; pp. 35 - 42
• Main Authors: Kempet, W., Marungsri, B., Yimnirun, R., Klysubun, W., Fangsuwannarak, T., Rattanachan, S., Pisitpipathsin, N., Promsawat, M., Pojprapai, S.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Philadelphia Taylor & Francis 19.02.2016; Taylor & Francis Ltd
• Subjects: Amplitudes; Electric fields; Ferroelectric materials; Ferroelectrics; Lead zirconate titanates; Polarization; PZT; Spectrum analysis; Synchrotrons; Ti K-edge; Titanium; X-rays; XANES; XAS
• ISSN: 0015-0193; 1563-5112
• DOI: 10.1080/00150193.2015.1069915

Lead zirconate titanate (PZT) ceramics have been extensively used for electronic applications due to their ability to couple mechanical and electrical energy, a so-called piezoelectric effect. This effect is caused by the shift of Ti 4+ or Zr 4+ ion relative to neighbouring atoms. The movement of the ions due to an external load causes reorientation of the ferroelectric polarization. Microscopically, the detail of the shift of Ti ion, reflecting polarization switching behaviour, can be analyzed by X-ray absorption near-edge structure (XANES) technique. The aim of this project is to investigate the shift of Ti 4+ ion in PZT under the application of electric field by in-situ X-ray absorption technique. For this project, the special custom-built high voltage sample chamber installed at synchrotron XANES beam line at Synchrotron Light Research Institute, Thailand, was employed to conduct the experiment. XANES spectrum of bulk PZT was collected under the different amplitudes of an applied electric field. Ti K-edge X-ray absorption spectra were analyzed by IFEFFIT software package. The results showed that the pattern of XANES changed with the alternation of the applied field amplitude. The change of XANES spectrum was caused by the movement of Ti 4+ ion reflecting the change of ferroelectric polarization. From the analysis, it was found that this technique could be used to investigate the Ti 4+ ion shifting of PZT bulk ceramics.