Polarization rotation via a monoclinic phase in the piezoelectric 92% PbZn(1/3)Nb(2/3)O3-8% PbTiO3.
The origin of ultrahigh piezoelectricity in the relaxor ferroelectric PbZn(1/3)Nb(2/3)O3-PbTiO3 was studied with an electric field applied along the [001] direction. The zero-field rhombohedral R phase starts to follow the direct polarization path to tetragonal symmetry via an intermediate monoclinic M phase, but then jumps irreversibly to an alternate path involving a different type of monoclinic distortion. Details of the structure and domain configuration of this novel phase are described. This result suggests that there is a nearby R-M phase boundary as found in the Pb(Ti,Zr)O3 system.
Noheda
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Physics Department, Brookhaven National Laboratory, Upton, New York 11973, USA.
Cox
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Shirane
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Park
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Cross
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Zhong
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