Achieving single domain relaxor-PT crystals by high temperature poling

Abstract

Single domain relaxor-PT crystals are important from both fundamental and application viewpoints. Compared to domain engineered relaxor-PT crystals, however, single domain crystals are prone to cracking during poling. In this paper, based on the analysis of the cracking phenomenon in [001] poled tetragonal 0.25Pb(In0.5Nb0.5)O3-0.37Pb(Mg 1/3Nb2/3)O3-0.38PbTiO3 (PIN-PMN-PT) crystals, the non-180°ferroelastic domain switching was thought to be the dominant factor for cracking during the poling process. A high temperature poling technique, by which the domain switching can be greatly avoided, was proposed to achieve the single domain relaxor-PT crystals. By this poling approach, a quasi-single domain crystal was obtained without cracks. In addition, compared to room temperature poling, the high temperature poled PIN-PMN-PT crystals showed improved electromechanical properties, i.e., a low dielectric loss, a low strain-electric field hysteresis and a high mechanical quality factor, demonstrating a beneficial poling approach. This journal is the Partner Organisations 2014. (PIN-PMN-PT) crystals, the non-180°f erroelastic domain switching was thought to be the dominant factor for cracking during the poling process. A high temperature poling technique, by which the domain switching can be greatly avoided, was proposed to achieve the single domain relaxor-PT crystals. By this poling approach, a quasi-single domain crystal was obtained without cracks. In addition, compared to room temperature poling, the high temperature poled PIN-PMN-PT crystals showed improved electromechanical properties, i.e., a low dielectric loss, a low strain-electric field hysteresis and a high mechanical quality factor, demonstrating a beneficial poling approach.

The origin of ultrahigh piezoelectricity in relaxor-ferroelectric solid solution crystals

“…The PMN–0.28PT, PMN–0.32PT and PZN–0.15PT single crystals were poled along their respective polar directions, that is, [111], [011] and [001]. To obtain single-domain states, a high-temperature poling approach was used49. For the PMN–0.28PT and PMN–0.32PT crystals, the samples were poled at 100 °C with a 1 MV m −1 E -field, and then cooled to room temperature with the E -field kept on.…”

“…For all the three crystals, the X-ray diffraction peaks do not show any anomaly over the temperature range of 50–300 K, indicating the lack of any long-range ferroelectric phase transition at cryogenic temperatures. Note: the peak splitting in PZN–0.15PT is due to an incomplete single-domain state, especially around the surface of the sample49. Because of the high lattice parameter ratio c / a (1.023) and the associated mechanical clamping, a fully single-domain state is very difficult to obtain.…”

Advantages and challenges of relaxor-PbTiO3 ferroelectric crystals for electroacoustic transducers – A review

“…[141]. Although large shear properties have been observed in crystals with single domain state, the single domain crystal is subject to cracking from the large electric field induced strain/stress during the poling process [330]. Fig.…”

“…Fig. 10 shows the strain versus electric field curves for rhombohedral PMN-PT crystals along [001] and [111] directions [42], where very high negative strain was observed in [111] poled crystals (this value is about −0.7 % for [001] poled tetragonal crystals [330]). This is due to the fact that the non-180° ferroelastic domains are not equivalent to [111] direction, as shown in Fig.…”

Growth and properties of (1−x)Pb(Zn1/3Nb2/3)O3–xPbTiO3 (x=0.07–0.11) ferroelectric single crystals by a top-seeded solution growth method

“…So far, many researchers always focused on relaxor-based ferroelectric single crystal growth using a flux method [6][7][8][9]. In 1997, Park and Shrout also reported that ferroelectric solid solutions PMN-xPT (x=0.33) and PZN-xPT (x=0.09) single crystal exhibited ultrahigh piezoelectric response d 33 and electromechanical coupling factors k 33 , which achieved 1500-1570 pC/N and 90%-92% near the MPB regions, respectively [10][11][12].…”