Because hysteresis occurs in ferroelectric materials,
they make random access memory
for computers and RFID cards.
What to name it
Erwin Schrödinger thought it should exist
and coined the term.
Although his report didn’t use Schrödinger’s term,
Joseph Valasek discovered it in Rochelle salt.
Ferroelectricity is a odd term for the effect
because the prefix ferro means iron
and ferroelectric materials do not contain iron.
Related to
Ferroelectric materials
are pyroelectric;
not all pyroelectric materials
are ferroelectric.
Pyroelectric materials
are piezoelectric;
not all piezoelectric materials
are pyroelectric.
If it’s not piezoelectric,
then it’s not pyroelectric,
and if it’s not pyroelectric,
then it’s not ferroelectric.
Pierre and Elie Seignette in La Rochelle first made Rochelle salt around 1665.
For this reason, it was proposed to rename ferroelectricity to “Seignette-electricity,”
but “ferroelectricity” sounds much better.
Pierre and Elie Seignette in La Rochelle first made Rochelle salt around 1665. For this reason, it was proposed to rename ferroelectricity to “Seignette-electricity,” but “ferroelectricity” sounds much better.
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