Hysteresis loops of first-order ferroelectric bilayers or superlattices and their size effect

Abstract

Based on Landau–Ginzburg phenomenological theory, a first-order ferroelectric bilayer or superlattice with an antiferroelectric interface coupling has been studied by taking into account the spatial variation of polarization within each constituent film and the surface effect. The hysteresis loops are obtained and the size effect of a bilayer is discussed. The loop patterns vary between typically antiferroelectric and typically ferroelectric depending on the thickness ratio, the coupling constant, the thickness and the extrapolation length. The antiferroelectric coupling has a great effect on the phase transition of a bilayer. It is shown that the size-driven phase transition cannot be observed in a ferroelectric bilayer in the case of strong antiferroelectric coupling.