Anomalous thermal hysteresis in the dielectric constant of PbZrO3

Abstract

The dielectric constant of a pure PbZrO3 ceramic sample was measured as a function of temperature in the phase transition region including the intermediate phase. Anomalous thermal hysteresis in the dielectric constant, often seen in ferroelectric materials with incommensurate phases, was observed. This behavior is interpreted to be the result of incommensuration in the intermediate phase.