Competition effects of grain boundary and aging on the hysteresis loop behavior of (Ba0.8Sr0.2)(Ti, Mn)O3 ceramics

Hysteresis loop is very important for the application of ferroelectric ceramics. Here the competition effects of grain boundary and aging on the hysteresis loop behavior of Mn doped (Ba0.8Sr0.2)TiO3 ceramics were studied. The results show that a double hysteresis loop appears after aging. Nevertheless, Pmax of small grained ceramics decreased clearly but Pr decreased little with aging time increases; large grained ceramics have the opposite result. Such difference is caused by the competition effect on their domain switching behavior, from aging-induced time-dependent internal defect field and grain boundary generated time-independent back field. This study may provide help on the control of hysteresis loop by grain size and aging.