Remanent polarization decay over time in a triglycine selenate crystal plate

It has been shown that the hysteresis loop of the uniaxial triglycine selenate ferroelectric can be gradually suppressed in an inhomogeneous electric field not parallel to the ferroelectric axis. Such a field was generated by a constant electric potential applied to silver paste measurement electrodes painted on a single-crystal sample of the form of a small round plate with an additionally attached grounded silver side (ring) electrode. No changes in the coercive field were visible during the remanent polarization decay over time. A reduction of remanent polarization persisted for many days after disconnecting the inhomogeneous electric field if no alternating electric field was applied. The original dielectric properties could be easily restored by annealing the sample above the critical temperature. The mathematical formula for the remanent polarization decay in time is discussed.