paraelektriseksi

Paraelektriseksi is a term that describes a material's behavior when subjected to an electric field. Specifically, it refers to the property of certain materials, primarily dielectrics, to exhibit a temporary and reversible change in their electrical polarization in response to an applied electric field. This means that the positive and negative charges within the material are slightly displaced, creating an induced dipole moment.

When the electric field is removed, the material's polarization returns to its original state. This phenomenon is distinct from ferroelectricity, where polarization can be switched and retained even in the absence of an external field. Paraelectric materials do not exhibit spontaneous polarization. Their dielectric constant is generally temperature-dependent, often increasing as the temperature decreases, following the Curie-Weiss law above a certain transition temperature.

Common examples of paraelectric materials include barium titanate (BaTiO3) above its Curie temperature and potassium dihydrogen phosphate (KH2PO4). This property makes paraelectrics useful in various electronic applications, such as capacitors, where their ability to store electrical energy is exploited. The degree of paraelectricity is quantified by the dielectric susceptibility, which measures how easily a material can be polarized.