Relaxor Pb(Mg(1/3)Nb(2/3))O3: a ferroelectric with multiple inhomogeneities.
Despite intensive studies on Pb(Mg(1/3)Nb(2/3))O(3) (PMN) relaxor, understanding the exact nature of its giant dielectric response and of its physical ground state is a fundamental issue that has remained unresolved for decades. Here, we report a comprehensive study of PMN relaxor crystal, and show that (i) its anomalous dielectric behavior in a broad temperature range results from the reorientation of polarization in the crystal, and (ii) the PMN relaxor is essentially a nanosized ferroelectric material with multiscale inhomogeneities of domain structure in addition to the well-known inhomogeneities of chemical composition and local symmetry. Such inhomogeneities are believed to play a crucial role in producing the huge and enigmatic physical effects in relaxor system, and may be used to design other new systems with giant effects such as a relaxor system.
Fu
Desheng
D
Division of Global Research Leaders, Shizuoka University, Johoku 3-5-1, Naka-ku, Hamamatsu 432-8561, Japan.
Taniguchi
Hiroki
H
Itoh
Mitsuru
M
Koshihara
Shin-ya
SY
Yamamoto
N
N
Mori
Shigeo
S