Lecture 13 15

Subject: Solid State Physics – II
Topic: Dielectrics and Ferroelectrics
Dr. Khizar Hayat

Associate Professor
Department of Physics
Abdul Wali Khan University Mardan
3/8/2021 1
Dielectrics and Ferroelectrics:
Maxwell Equations, Polarization, Dielectric Constant
and Dielectric Polarizability, Susceptibility, Electronic
Polarizablity, Clausius-Mossotti Relation, Structural
Phase Transitions, Ferroelectric crystals,
Classification of Ferroelectric Crystals, Theory of
Ferroelectric Displacive Transitions, Thermodynamic
theory of Ferroelectric transition, Ferroelectric
Domains, Piezoelectricity.
2
Dielectrics
Example: Microwave Dielectric Resonator

Dielectric resonators are used as microwave filters in
telecommunication devices that are used for selecting a particular
frequency range while blocking other.
Most of the microwave-based device systems are

located in the frequency range 300 MHz – 300 GHz.
3
0.3GHz= 300MHz
300 GHz
Microwave dielectric spectrum and applications 4

Dielectric Resonators
Commercial microwave dielectric ceramics must have a high
Important parameters:
i. Relative permittivity (εr)
ii. Quality factor (Qf)
iii. Temperature Coefficient of resonant frequency (TCF)
5
NOTE: (1) Linear & Non-linear dielectrics
If (1). E is directly proportional to the induced polarization P, and
(2). P disappears when E is removed,
then the material is called linear dielectric.

Example: Piezoelectric materials
6
NOTE: (2)
 Some materials contains electric dipoles, which
produces a local electric field.
 This local electric field promote the dipole alignment in

a certain region, and hence contributing to the increase
of the polarization.
 The net polarization of that region will also promote

the increase of the local fields of the dipoles of that
region.
 These co-operation phenomena will aligns the dipoles

along the same direction, resulting in the spontaneous
polarization of the materials. 7
 As a result of spontaneous polarization, the electric
polarization does not vary linearly with the applied
field.
 Such materials are called non-linear dielectrics.
Examples: Ferroelectrics and Pyroelectrics.
In such materials the relationship between the applied

field (E) and the polarization (P) is described by a loop
which is called “Hysteresis Loop”.
8
Hysteresis Loop
 Saturation polarization
 Remanent polarization
 Coercive field
Example: Smart materials which

keeps information (remanent
poalrization)
9
Basic atomic theory of Dielectrics
According to this theory, a dielectric material is

made up of atoms. Each atom consists of a
cloud of negative charge (called electrons)
surrounding a positive point charge at its center
(called nucleus).
In the presence of an electric field the charge

cloud is distorted.
10
This distortion results in the formation
of dipoles or orientation of
permanent dipoles and these dipoles
are then characterized by the quantity
called the dipole moment, “μ”. Which
is directly related to the external field; μ
μαE
It is the relationship between the
electric field and the dipole moment
that gives rise to the behavior of the
dielectric.
 When the electric field is removed

the atom returns to its original state.
11
Dielectrics and Insulators
Insulators are substances which permit very less current
flow through them.
OR
Materials that exhibit low electrical conductivities or
high electrical resistivity.
Substance such as porcelain and wood are good

examples of insulators.
Dielectrics are also insulators, but more specifically, they

are materials which can be polarized.
12
In dielectric materials, the
electrons are bound to the
nucleus and have limited
movement.
When an external voltage is

applied to the dielectric, the
nucleus of the atoms is
attracted to the negative side
and the electros are attracted
to the positive side. Hence,
the material gets polarized.
This is a key feature of a dielectric.

13
Thus a dielectric can be defined as an insulator
that can be polarized.
All dielectrics are insulators, but all insulators are

not dielectrics.
A dielectric can thus store charge. This

characteristic makes it very useful in the form of
capacitors.
They also dissipate very less energy, i.e. have

low dielectric loss.
14
Dielectrics, represent a class of insulators, exhibiting
unique features, such as a large relative permittivity (εr)
or dielectric constant, which is the ratio of the permittivity
of the medium (ε) to the permittivity of free space (εo)
𝜀 𝐶
𝜀𝑟 = =
𝜀𝑜 𝐶𝑜
where C and Co are the capacitances within the dielectric
medium and free space respectively.

15
“C” is related to “εr” by the expression Where
where “A” is the area of one of the plates of a parallel

plate capacitor and “d” is the separation between
them.
The above equation reveals that with the
incorporation of the dielectric medium
between the plates, the capacitance
increases by the factor “εr”.
This function of the dielectric is attributed to the internal

polarization of the material.
16
Polarisation and Polarisability
Consider an electric charge distribution, e.g., an electron cloud

around the nucleus, subjected to an electric field. Under its influence,
the field will push the nucleus in its own direction and pull the
electron cloud towards its origin.
The centres of the two charge distributions, thus, do not coincide any
more and result in an internal electric field. This phenomenon is
called electric polarization.
The polarizability (α) is define as “the deformation of a charge

distribution from its normal shape under the influence of an
electric field”.
17
It is found that the average dipole moment of a system is
proportional to the applied electric field (E) i.e.
Thus on the basis of this expression,
The polarizability can also be defined as:
“The ratio of the average dipole moment to the applied electric field”.
The SI unit of polarizability is C.m2/V.
18
Polarization mechanisms in dielectrics:
1.Atomic/electronic polarization
2.Ionic polarization
3.Dipolar/orientational polarization
4.Space charge/diffusional/interfacial polarization.
19
1. Atomic/Electronic polarisation
Atomic polarisation 20
2. Ionic polarisation
figure.
Ionic polarisation in dielectrics 21

3. Dipolar/Orientation Polarisation
22
Dipolar/Orientation Polarisation (cont…………)
Dipolar polarisation
23
4. Space Charge/Diffusional Polarisation
Space charge polarisation 24

Dielectric materials  Functional Materials
The materials which have the ability to perform certain “function”
under a defined stimulus (something applied externally that
stimulate or influences an activity) are called functional materials.
Examples are:
 Piezoelectric materials  Linear dielectric

 Pyroelectricmaterials
 Non-linear dielectric
 Ferroelectricmaterials
25
Piezoelectric materials
(The word piezoelectricity means electricity resulting from pressure or load)
Whenever certain crystals are subjected to a mechanical stress

(tension or compression), they develop a potential difference across
their surfaces in proportion to the applied stress called the
piezoelectric effect (or generator effect).
OR
Piezoelectricity is the electric charge that accumulates in certain
solid materials (such as crystals, certain ceramics, and biological
matter such as bone, DNA and various proteins) in response to
applied mechanical stress.
26
Piezoelectric Effect
This phenomenon was discovered by two brothers Jacques
Curie and Pierre Curie in 1880 in different crystalline
materials such as PZT, BaTiO3, zinc blend, bora-cite, quartz,
etc.
Compression of the sample Expansion of the sample

Indirect piezoelectric effect
Direct piezoelectric effect
Piezoelectric Effect
Infrared Detection Igniter

Ferroelectric materials
Ferroelectricity is a property of certain materials that have

a spontaneous electric polarization that can be reversed by the
application of an external electric field.
 Present spontanous polarization

 Polarization can be inversed
 Ferroelectric domains
 Hysteresis loop
30
Pyroelectric materials
Pyroelectricity is the ability of certain materials to generate a
temporary voltage when they are heated or cooled.
The change in temperature modifies the positions of the atoms

slightly within the crystal structure, such that the polarization of the
material changes. This polarization change gives rise to a voltage
across the crystal.
31
Formation of Hysteresis Loop in ferroelectrics
Typical Hysteresis Loop of a

ferroelectric material
32
Ferroelectric Domains
33
34
Ferroelectric Structural Phase Transitions
OR
Thermodynamic theory of Ferroelectric transition
36
Thanks for your
kind attention !!

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Subject: Solid State Physics – II

Topic: Dielectrics and Ferroelectrics

Dr. Khizar Hayat

Example: Microwave Dielectric Resonator

Most of the microwave-based device systems are

Microwave dielectric spectrum and applications 4

then the material is called linear dielectric.

 This local electric field promote the dipole alignment in

 The net polarization of that region will also promote

 These co-operation phenomena will aligns the dipoles

 Such materials are called non-linear dielectrics.

Examples: Ferroelectrics and Pyroelectrics.

In such materials the relationship between the applied

which is called “Hysteresis Loop”.

Example: Smart materials which

According to this theory, a dielectric material is

In the presence of an electric field the charge

 When the electric field is removed

Substance such as porcelain and wood are good

Dielectrics are also insulators, but more specifically, they

When an external voltage is

This is a key feature of a dielectric.

All dielectrics are insulators, but all insulators are

A dielectric can thus store charge. This

They also dissipate very less energy, i.e. have

unique features, such as a large relative permittivity (εr)

or dielectric constant, which is the ratio of the permittivity

of the medium (ε) to the permittivity of free space (εo)

where C and Co are the capacitances within the dielectric

medium and free space respectively.

where “A” is the area of one of the plates of a parallel

This function of the dielectric is attributed to the internal

Consider an electric charge distribution, e.g., an electron cloud

The polarizability (α) is define as “the deformation of a charge

Thus on the basis of this expression,

The polarizability can also be defined as:

The SI unit of polarizability is C.m2/V.

Ionic polarisation in dielectrics 21

Space charge polarisation 24

Whenever certain crystals are subjected to a mechanical stress

Compression of the sample Expansion of the sample

Infrared Detection Igniter

Ferroelectricity is a property of certain materials that have

 Present spontanous polarization

The change in temperature modifies the positions of the atoms

Typical Hysteresis Loop of a

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