The effect of the bipolar field on the aging behavior and the associated properties of the Mn-doped BaTiO3 ceramics

Abstract

In this work, the influence of the typical bipolar electric field on the aging behavior, rather than the normally time evolution aging, of the Mn-doped BaTiO3 ceramics and the associated properties were studied. Our results show the obviously different influences of the bipolar filed when applied in the different periods of the time-aged process: for an unaged sample, a 100ms bipolar pre-field assists to develop a displaced hysteresis loop and a high d33 of 170pC/N which is nearly 65% d33 of the sample with the dc poling in the same electric amplitude of 1.0kV/mm for 30min; more importantly, it assists the sample shortly aged 10h to develop a well-constricted hysteresis loop and a large recoverable electro-strain of nearly 0.23% under 3.0kV/mm field, which is about 20% larger strain than the sample aged 3days under the same test condition. Contrarily, when the sample well aged 3days, the pre-field shows only the de-aging effect, it released the constricted hysteresis loop. The above results thus indicate a possible way to accelerate aging process and enhance the associated properties by pre-load bipolar field. A microscopic understanding was discussed from the viewpoint of the influence of a pre-load bipolar field on the redistribution of the defects and thus the stabilization of domain configuration in different aging periods.