Correlation between fatigue and piezoelectric properties in (Pb, La) (Zr, Ti)O-3 thick films

The correlation between the ferroelectric fatigue and variations in piezoel ectric properties in a 8/65/35 (Pb, La) (Zr, Ti)O-3 thick film was studied by simultaneous measurements of the polarization hysteresis loop, the strai n-field loop, the piezoelectric constant, and the dielectric constant durin g cycling. It was found that the fatigue reflects itself in the variations of the piezoelectric constant and the induced strain. Namely, during cyclin g both quantities decrease for the same relative amount as the remanent pol arization. In addition, the effective electrostriction constant as a functi on of switching cycles was determined. (C) 1999 American Institute of Physi cs. [S0021-8979(99)03401-5].