EFFECT OF EXTERNAL STRESS ON POLARIZATION IN FERROELECTRIC THIN-FILMS

The polarization changes caused by applying mechanical stresses to a l ead zirconate titanate (PZT) thin film were investigated, Both the rem nant and spontaneous polarizations decreased when the PZT film was loa ded with tensile stress. For compressive stresses, the remnant polariz ation increased, but spontaneous polarization did not change. In fatig ue with tensile stress state, the polarization decreased earlier than when there was no stress, which depend on whether or not the initial p olarization value was high. Conversely, in fatigue with compressive st ress, the initial higher remnant polarization value was maintained com pared with the polarization in the unstress condition. (C) 1998 Americ an Institute of Physics.