Ferroelectric switching mechanism in SrBi2Ta2O9

Abstract

The ferroelectric switching mechanism in strontium bismuth tantalate [SrBi2Ta2O9 (SBT)] has been studied using in situ transmission electron microscopy observations of the nucleation and growth of polarization domains, such as 180° and 90° domains. Thank to this high density of the antiphase boundary (APB), a switching mechanism in SBT based on the nucleation of new polarization domains at APBs as well as the electrode interfaces put forward and the fatigue-free behavior of SBT with a platinum electrode is explained.