Realizing a ferroelectric state and high pyroelectric performance in antiferroelectric-oxide composites

Abstract

We report a robust room temperature ferroelectric (FE) state in (1 − x)Pb_0.99Nb_0.02[(Zr_0.57Sn_0.43)_0.933Ti_0.067]_0.98O₃–xZnO ((1 − x)PNZST–xZnO) composites, where PNZST shows a predominant antiferroelectric (AFE) nature due to ZnO-induced internal strain. Upon heating, a FE-AFE transition occurs and generates high pyroelectric performance. The composite with x = 0.1 shows a peak pyroelectric coefficient of p = 2450.7 × 10⁻⁴ C m⁻² K⁻¹ and figures of merit of current responsivity F_i = 926.9 × 10⁻¹⁰ m V⁻¹, voltage responsivity F_v = 1334.3 × 10⁻² m² C⁻¹, and detectivity F_d = 1194.8 × 10⁻⁵ Pa^−1/2, which are about two orders of magnitude higher than those of most perovskite pyroelectric oxides. More interestingly, the FE-AFE transition temperature, i.e., the temperature corresponding to peak pyroelectric performance, is tunable in a wide temperature range from 30 °C to 65 °C. This work not only provides a promising material candidate for high performance pyroelectric devices, but also an alternative idea to develop ferroelectric and pyroelectric properties based on antiferroelectric materials.