Achieving high piezoelectric performances with enhanced domain-wall contributions in -textured Sm-modified PMN-29PT ceramics

Abstract

1% Sm substituted PMN-29PT ([Sm0.01Pb0.985][(Mg1/3Nb2/3)0.71Ti0.29]O3) textured ceramics with a Lotgering factor of up to 80 % were successfully prepared. The dielectric, ferroelectric and piezoelectric properties have been investigated in detail for both textured and non-textured ceramics. The heterogeneous templates are found to be critical for the change in relaxor behaviors, leading to the reduced Tf, Tm, εmax and Pr in textured ceramics. The textured ceramics show an enhanced d33 of 810 pC/N, about 1.6 times greater than their randomly oriented ceramic counterparts. The domain structures and their responses to applied electric fields have been studied using piezoresponse force microscopy, signifying the enhanced extrinsic contributions by the increased domain wall densities and dynamics. The improved dielectric and piezoelectric properties are discussed and explained from the view point of extrinsic contributions in textured ceramics. The results demonstrate that the textured Sm-PMN-PT piezoelectric ceramics could be promising high performance piezoelectrics with low cost.