title: Unique Piezoelectric Properties of the Monoclinic Phase in Pb(Zr,Ti)O_{3} Ceramics: Large Lattice Strain and Negligible Domain Switching.
abstract: The origin of the excellent piezoelectric properties at the morphotropic phase boundary is generally attributed to the existence of a monoclinic phase in various piezoelectric systems. However, there exist no experimental studies that reveal the role of the monoclinic phase in the piezoelectric behavior in phase-pure ceramics. In this work, a single monoclinic phase has been identified in Pb(Zr,Ti)O_{3} ceramics at room temperature by in situ high-energy synchrotron x-ray diffraction, and its response to electric field has been characterized for the first time. Unique piezoelectric properties of the monoclinic phase in terms of large intrinsic lattice strain and negligible domain switching have been observed. The extensional strain constant d_{33} and the transverse strain constant d_{31} are calculated to be 520 and -200  pm/V, respectively. These large piezoelectric coefficients are mainly due to the large intrinsic lattice strain, with very little extrinsic contribution from domain switching. The unique properties of the monoclinic phase provide new insights into the mechanisms responsible for the piezoelectric properties at the morphotropic phase boundary.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Chemistry, University of Science and Technology Beijing, Beijing 100083, China.
authors.forename: Longlong
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Fan
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Chemistry, University of Science and Technology Beijing, Beijing 100083, China.
authors.forename: Jun
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: X-Ray Science Division, Advanced Photon Source, Argonne National Laboratory, Argonne, Illinois 60439, USA.
authors.forename: Yang
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Ren
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Chemistry, University of Science and Technology Beijing, Beijing 100083, China.
authors.forename: Zhao
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Pan
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Chemistry, University of Science and Technology Beijing, Beijing 100083, China.
authors.forename: Linxing
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Chemistry, University of Science and Technology Beijing, Beijing 100083, China.
authors.forename: Xianran
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Xing