Ferroelectric Domains in Sr_0.5Ba_0.5Nb₂O₆ (SBN50) at Nanolevel

Abstract

Ferroelectric domains in Sr_0.5Ba_0.5Nb₂O₆ (SBN50) at nanolevel have been investigated by means of temperature dependence of dielectric permittivity, hysteresis study and the transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The temperature dependence of dielectric constants of SBN50 measured at 100Hz confirmed a ‘relaxor’ nature of the material. The Curie temperature range was found to be shifted towards the room temperature side. Spontaneous polarization values, obtained from the hysteresis loop, were found to be very small. The discrepancy in the observed behavior from the literature reported one was interpreted and correlated to the domain formation in SBN50 nanoparticles. Physical evidences of domain like structures in SBN50 nanoparticles were also reported.

Keywords:

• Nanoparticles
• ferroelectricity
• domains
• polarization
• strain energy

Funding

One of the authors (S. B. Nagdeote) wishes to thank the University Grants Commission of India, for the award of a teacher fellowship (F. No. 29-21/09).