DescriptionThe fundamental physics of antiferroelectric crystal oxides is studied using first principles methods. The microscopic origin of antiferroelectricity in traditional perovskite antiferroelectrics and other oxide compounds is investigated. The structural and energetic competition between ferroelectricity and antiferroelectricity is explored under the effect of epitaxial strain and compositional modification. The energy landscape of the field-induced ferroelectric transition is described with a Landau-Devonshire model. The work concludes with a search for more antiferroelectric materials. Promising candidates are identified and the role of tuning parameters is discussed.