Physical properties and reentrant behavior in PLZT thin films

Abstract

La-modified lead zirconate titanate (PLZT) thin films were prepared to study their physical properties at macro- and nanoscale. Piezoresponse force microscopy (PFM) studies suggest a local imprint behavior at room temperature. Confirmed by P-E hysteresis loops recorded at 180-300 K, the imprint effect at room temperature tends to disappear at lower temperatures. In addition, the remanent polarization gradually increases and then decreases after reaching a maximum at around 243 K. This behavior suggests the occurrence of a reentrant dipole glass or an activated electric field effect in the studied PLZT films. © 2017 Taylor & Francis Group, LLC.