An inverse-pole-figure method for the analysis of domain switching in polycrystalline ferroelectrics/ferroelastics

An inverse-pole-figure (IPF) method is proposed to analyze domain switching in polycrystalline ferroelectrics/ferroelastics subjected to electric/mechanical loading. The IPF method fixes the crystallite coordinates and makes electric/mechanical loading directions vary. Both the accuracy and efficiency of the IPF method are examined and proved superior to the conventional random statistic (RS) method. Furthermore, using the IPF method, it is very convenient to account for the depolarization field/stress caused by domain switching, thus predicting the observed incomplete switching in real ceramics.