Polarization behavior in systems with competing ferroelectric and antiferroelectric interactions

Abstract

The dielectric hysteresis loop constitutes the main feature indicative of the properties of a ferroelectric material, but in complex systems with ferro- and antiferroelectric interactions, the hysteresis loops are often multiple. In the present work, we introduce a model based on the coexistence of ferro- and antiferroelectric regions, which can describe the aforementioned multiple loops. Based on our model, simulated multiple hysteresis loops are in good agreement with experimental results. Hysteresis loops obtained from our model are sensitive to the relative values of the ferro- and antiferroelectric coupling constants, domain size, and temperature. The model describes well systems without the presence of frustration as it is the case of BA(x)BP(1-x). In the case of systems exhibiting frustration like e.g. Rb-x (NH4)(1-x) H2PO4, we present a straightforward extension of our model.