Effects of operating conditions on the fast-decay component of the retained polarization in lead zirconate titanate thin films

Abstract
The fast‐decay component of the retained polarization in lead zirconate titanate ferroelectric capacitors was examined as a function of write/read voltage, number of cycles (fatigue), and temperature. The percentage of polarization loss within 1 s after the write pulse was found to be independent of the write/read voltage and only somewhat dependent upon the number of read/write cycles and temperature. A preliminary model is presented based on depolarizing fields within the ferroelectric due to nonswitching layers at the top and bottom interfaces.