Temperature dependent switching mechanism of (Pb0.92La0.08)(Zr0.65Ti0.35)O3 investigated by small and large signal measurements

The transition region between the field induced ferroelectric and the ergodic phase in relaxor ferroelectrics offers the possibility to study the switching behavior as a function of the increasing relaxor character of the system. Here, field dependent small and large signal measurements are presented. The results obtained at distinct temperatures below the transition temperature T-t for (Pb0.92La0.08)(Zr0.65Ti0.35)O-3 concerning P(E), S(E), epsilon(33)(E), and d(33)(E) display a strong temperature dependence. Analysis of the reversible and irreversible domain processes leads to the conclusion that switching occurs through an intermediate nanodomain state even in the ferroelectric regime. (C) 2010 American Institute of Physics. [doi: 10.1063/1.3493191]