The fatigued state of Pt-PZT-Pt ferroelectric capacitors (FECAP) was i
nvestigated by means of piezoelectric coefficient, polarisation charge
and permittivity measurements. The suppression of switching polarisat
ion P-r(s) appears to be the result of freezing of ferroelectric domai
ns without affecting the lattice dielectric properties. The frozen pol
arised domains show a preferential orientation which is related td the
electrode interface asymmetry. The fatigue mechanism in thin films is
not assisted by a growing passive layer and is characterised by a sub
stantial reversible character and adaptation to the used fatiguing fie
ld (field self-adjusting). With consideration of the frozen asymmetry
and of the newly discovered slow cycling fatiguing effect in thicker s
amples, the fatigue mechanism was interpreted as inhibition of the nuc
leation at the top electrode interface. Since it is unlikely that the
domain wails (DW) cross the grain boundaries, it is suggested that the
effective suppression of P-r(s) occurs grain by grain and corresponds
to the creation of ''ferroelectrically dead areas''.