The dependence of electron emission on ferroelectric properties of Pb(ZrxTi1-x)O3

The characteristics of pulse electric field induced electron emission from the Pb(ZrxTi1-x)O-3 ceramics have been investigated with a particular emphasis on the relationship to the ferroelectric properties. The emission charge of the negative pulse field to the rear electrode was smaller and more stable than that of the positive field. The emission threshold field and the emission charge were indeed affected by the coercive field and polarization change. However, the emission properties were minimally affected by the dielectric constant. The emission charge increased exponentially with the pulse field and polarization change. The electron emission can be regarded as a field emission by polarization change. (C) 1999 American Institute of Physics. [S0003-6951(99)02739-4].