INVESTIGATIONS OF SURFACES OF FERROELECTRICS WITH SEMICONDUCTING ELECTRODES
Horst E. Müser · Le Journal de Physique Colloques · 1972
The conductance of an electrode parallel to the surface of a ferroelectric crystal depends on the sign of the spontaneous polarization, because the true charges compensating the polarization charge are movable. Some time after a switching process a considerable part of the charge is in the surface layer of the ferroelectric, no longer contributing to the conductance of the electrode. For an investigation of this effect, semiconducting electrodes are especially appropriate. The behaviour of the surface layer of the semiconductor must be taken into account. Differently defined mobilities can differ up to orders of magnitude. Possible applications of ferroelectrics with semiconducting electrodes or semiconducting crystals with evaporated ferroelectric films are described.