Effect of texture on dielectric properties and thermal depoling of Bi4Ti3O12 ferroelectric ceramics

Ordinary fired Bi4Ti3O12 ceramics show a gradual reduction in their room temperature d33 after annealing at temperatures from room temperature to 450°C. Textured ceramics show a greater resistance to thermal depoling. At about 450°C there is a rapid drop of d33 for the textured materials, which may be a consequence of a phase transition. Between 500 and 650°C the d33 is stable. The depolarization is assisted by internal mechanical stresses. These stresses are smaller in textured materials, which explains the increasing resistance to thermal depoling with increasing texture.