Nonmonotonic variation of aging behavior in Fe-doped BaTiO3 ceramics

The investigation of ferroelectric aging effect in Fe-doped BaTiO3 ceramics reveals that such effect is first strengthened and then suppressed with the increase content of Fe dopant. Such nonmonotonic variation of aging behavior is considered to be originated from the competition effects between increased concentration of oxygen vacancies and decreased c/a value on the formation of defect dipoles (Fe-Ti' - V-<(0)double over dot>) . This study provides a feasible alternative method for modulating aging effect and will favor the applications of ferroelectrics. (C) 2014 AIP Publishing LLC.