Describing a material that can develop permanent electric polarization (separation of charge) and whose properties can be changed by applying an electric field.
From 'ferro-' (Latin for iron, used metaphorically for strong/permanent) + 'electric' (from Greek 'elektron' meaning amber). The term was coined in the 1920s by analogy to ferromagnetism, materials that retain magnetism like iron does.
Ferroelectric materials are the key ingredient in most touch screens and high-capacity computer memory chips—the same technology that lets your phone know where you're tapping!
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