Problem of the transient phase between the paraelectric and the antiferroelectric phase in PbZrO3

Abstract
Detailed investigations of the pyroelectric and dielectric properties were performed on PbZrO3 single crystals grown from PbO + ZrO2 + PbF2 + B2O3 flux. Virgin samples possessed a spontaneously developing transient phase. The influence of space charge polarization, in particular connected with the special role of vacancies in Pb and O sublattices, on the temperature changes of proper pyroelectric current inside the ferroelectric phase is considered. Also the residual current observed above the Curie temperature and below the transition temperature to the antiferroelectric phase is discussed in detail.