Flux growth of La‐doped lead zirconate stannate titanate antiferroelectric crystals

Abstract

Relaxor antiferroelectric single crystals lead lanthanum zirconate stannate titanate (PLZST) with the composition around the morphotropic phase boundary (MPB) have been grown by flux method using 50 wt% PbO-PbF 2 -B 2 O 3 as a flux. The obtained crystals are light yellow in color. The XRD patterns revealed that the habitual faces of the obtained crystal are (001). The crystal morphology was studied and related to a layer growth mechanism controlled by two-dimensional growth. The chemical composition of as-grown crystal was analyzed by inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry (ICP), indicating a slight decrease of the amount of Ti compared to the starting materials. The result was verified by the XRD patterns with the phase transformation from the co-existence of tetragonal and rhombohedra phases to the single tetragonal phase.

Growth and characterization of (Pb, La)(Zr, Sn, Ti)O3 single crystals

“…It usually occurs along the habitual plane in which the bond is the strongest while the weakest between two planes. XRD patterns showed that the habitual faces of the PLZST crystals were (0 0 1) [4], which meant a PLZST crystal would exhibit incomplete cleavage along the (0 0 1) plane. It is confirmed by the morphology shown in Fig.…”

“…In previous studies, Pb 0.97 La 0.02 (Zr 0.66 Sn 0.27 Ti 0.07 )O 3 ceramics with composition near MPB were found to exhibit good properties [3]. Wang et al [4] prepared single crystals based on the above composition, but they found the amount of each element to be different from that of the raw materials, especially the Ti 4+ content. As found in many PT-containing ferroelectric crystals [5][6][7][8][9], the element deviation may affect the quality of the crystals.…”

“…The decomposition of the perovskite phase into other solid phases makes it difficult to grow single crystals directly from its melt [4]. Up till now, the flux method is commonly used in growing single crystals [10][11][12][13].…”

Progress in lead-based ferroelectric and antiferroelectric single crystals: composition modification, crystal growth and properties

“…Attempts to grow single crystals of PLZST have been made by our group since 1997, and intensive research is moving forward. [45][46][47] In this highlight, we will also present some recent advances in the flux selection, compositions optimization, and defect analysis of the as-grown PLZST single crystals.…”

Ferroelectric Domains and Grain Engineering in SrBi2Ta2O9

“…Such fluxes at high temperature are advantageous, because their constituent elements are also part of the desired final composition and, therefore, the incorporation of foreign ions into the lattice of the crystals is avoided. Moreover, the melting point may be conveniently reduced by adding another component to the flux, i.e., B 2 O 3 [22]. The main disadvantage of this method is the slow growth rate and the excessive power consumed for the growth of large crystals.…”