Time-Resolved Nanobeam X-ray Diffraction of a Relaxor Ferroelectric Single Crystal under an Alternating Electric Field

Abstract

Lead-containing relaxor ferroelectrics show enormous piezoelectric capabilities relating to their heterogeneous structures. Time-resolved nanobeam X-ray diffraction reveals the time and position dependences of the local lattice strain on a relaxor ferroelectric single crystal mechanically vibrating and alternately switching, as well as its polarization under an alternating electric field. The complicated time and position dependences of the Bragg intensity distributions under an alternating electric field demonstrate that nanodomains with the various lattice constants and orientations exhibiting different electric field responses exist in the measured local area, as the translation symmetry breaks to the microscale. The dynamic motion of nanodomains in the heterogeneous structure, with widely distributed local lattice strain, enables enormous piezoelectric lattice strain and fatigue-free ferroelectric polarization switching.

X-ray diffuse scattering and polar nanoregion of a relaxor ferroelectric under electric field

“…9) To reveal electric field responses of the heterogeneous structures in lead-based relaxor ferroelectrics, we have studied their average crystal structures and local lattice strains under an electric field by X-ray Bragg scattering in the previous studies. [10][11][12] The average crystal structure of a PMN-30PT single crystal at 300 K was successfully analyzed using a Pb-disordered rhombohedral structure with the polarization along 〈111〉. 12) Complicated time and position dependences of local lattice strains breaking the translation symmetry were observed on a PMN-30PT single crystal by our time-resolved nanobeam X-ray diffraction under an alternating electric field.…”

“…12) Complicated time and position dependences of local lattice strains breaking the translation symmetry were observed on a PMN-30PT single crystal by our time-resolved nanobeam X-ray diffraction under an alternating electric field. 11,12) X-ray diffuse scattering (XDS) of a PMN-30PT single crystal under an electric field along [111] is investigated in this study for deeper understanding of an electric field response of PNRs. Local structures and PNRs in lead-based relaxor ferroelectrics have been extensively studied by X-ray and neutron diffuse scattering measurements.…”

Scanning time-resolved measurement of transient lattice strain on quartz oscillators resonating under alternating electric field

“…Transient lattice strains during lattice vibration can be measured by time-resolved XRD (TR-XRD). [23][24][25][26][27][28][29][30][31][32] We developed a TR-XRD technique to measure transient lattice strains and atomic displacements in piezoelectric oscillators which were extremely enhanced by their resonant vibrations under an alternating electric field. [27][28][29][30] The TR-XRD technique is applied to the scanning measurement of the transient and local lattice strain on resonating quartz crystals in this study.…”

Time-Resolved Crystallography

“…This provides insight into the supercooling effect of clouds in our climate system. Time-resolved structural studies of both biological systems using pump-probe experiments published by Pandey et al [2] and the time-resolved effects on lead-containing relaxor ferroelectrics by Aoyagi et al [3] are also covered. Radiation damage, an important aspect of serial crystallography is a topic covered by Caleman et al [4] looking at the effect on bond breaking in molecular structures, and Kozlov et al [5] provided a theoretical study on the molecular dynamic effects at femtosecond time scales.…”