Frequency dependent polarisation switching in h-ErMnO3

Abstract

We report an electric-field poling study of the geometric-driven improper ferroelectric h-ErMnO3. From a detailed dielectric analysis we deduce the temperature and frequency dependent range for which single-crystalline h-ErMnO3 exhibits purely intrinsic dielectric behaviour, i.e., free from extrinsic so-called Maxwell-Wagner polarisations that arise, for example, from surface barrier layers. In this regime ferroelectric hysteresis loops as function of frequency, temperature and applied electric fields are measured revealing the theoretically predicted saturation polarisation in the order of 5 - 6 µC/cm2. Special emphasis is put on frequencydependent polarisation switching, which is explained in terms of domain-wall movement similar to proper ferroelectrics. Controlling the domain walls via electric fields brings us an important step closer to their utilization in domain-wall-based electronics.