Ferroelectric deaging effect of Zr4+ ions on sol–gel-derived BiFe0.95Mn0.05O3 thin films

BiFe0.95−xMn0.05ZrxO3 thin films were prepared on ITO/glass substrates using a sol–gel method. The P–E hysteresis loops before and after the high electric field treatment were measured to investigate the deaging effect of Zr4+ ions on BiFe0.95Mn0.05O3 thin films. It was found that the BiFe0.95Mn0.05O3 thin film shows typical double P–E hysteresis loops before the cycling of high electric field, indicating that the film was aged. The double-loop feature fades away gradually with the increase of zirconium doping content from 1 to 3 mol%, demonstrating that Zr4+ ions indeed have deaging effect on the aged BiFe0.95Mn0.05O3 film. Such deaging effect of Zr4+ ions can be further proved by comparing the asymmetry of the coercive field before and after the cycling of high electric field as well as the charge retaining capability.

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► The double P–E loops observed indicate that the BFMO film was aged.
► The double-loop feature fades away gradually with the increase of Zr content from 1 to 3 mol%.
► The deaging effect of Zr can be proved by testing the asymmetry of Ec and retention properties.