Dynamic hysteresis and scaling behavior in epitaxial antiferroelectric film

•We model the antiferroelectric phase transition as occurring in a viscous medium.•The film shows area of double loop ∝ f0.03(E − 499)0.20 at low frequency.•The film takes the form of ∝ f0.10(E − 499)0.20 when frequency exceeds 30 Hz.•These relations are related to the variation of viscous force with the frequency.

In this study, we investigated the scaling behavior of dynamic hysteresis with frequency f and electric field E in epitaxial PbZrO3 antiferroelectric film on (111)-oriented SrTiO3 substrate. The scaling relation for the saturated hysteresis loops takes the form of hysteresis area ∝ f0.03(E − 499)0.20 at relatively low testing f. However, when frequency exceeds 30 Hz, the shows stronger dependence on f while remains basically unchanged relation with E, leading to a form of ∝ f0.10(E − 499)0.20. The scaling behavior is modeled as occurring in a viscous medium where several forces, such as viscous and restoring forces, act on the phase transition process.