Full and Partial Polarization Switching Characteristics of Sol-Gel derived Pb(ZrxTi1-x)O3 This Films

In this study, polarization switching characteristics of Pb(ZrxTil-x)O3 (PZT) thin films were investigated. Switching times(ts) were found to be decreased as the Zr mol% was increased. But, the switching peak currents(Imax) showed the largest value at 50 mol% Zr. As a result of this experiment, ts was found to be depended on the remanent polarization and coercive field and also Imax strongly depended on the dielectric constant of PZT thin films. In order to investigate the partial switching kinetics of PZT thin films, short and relatively small voltage pulses were applied to the MFM(metalferroelectric metal) PZT capacitors and polarization switching curves were measured with a variation of the total width of the applied pulses. Also, the switching curves were measured at different applied voltages(4, 8, 10, 12 and 14 volts). As the applied voltages increased, ts and Imax were found to be decreased and increased, respectively. In case of fatigued specimen which we applied $\pm$10 volts square pulse for 1010 cycles, ts and Imax were found to be shorter and smaller than those of virgin specimens. This is due to the decrease of the remanent polarization and the increase of the coercive field.