General Introduction to Ferroelectrics

Abstract

In this chapter “General introduction to ferroelectrics” we contribute the basic idea of the fundamental properties of ferroelectrics. We focus on the following properties in the chapter such as basic introduction, classification, ferroelectric phase transitions, spontaneous polarization, local field, dielectric properties, polarizability, thermodynamics of ferroelectricity and applications of ferroelectrics. Ferroelectric materials are unusual dielectric which possesses reversible spontaneous electric polarization which can be reversed by application of stress or electric field which exhibit a range of properties. These properties are widely used in the today’s scientific and industrial technology. The large number of areas due to their peculiar and interesting properties such as high permittivity capacitors, ferroelectric non-volatile FeRAM memories, pyroelectric sensors, piezoelectric and transducers, electrooptic and optoelectronic devices, etc.