Banded Structure and Domain Arrangements in PbTiO3 Single Crystals

Abstract

In the present work we report the ferroelectric domain arrangements and characteristics of banded structures observed in flux-grown PbTiO3 single crystals. Investigations of etched crystals indicate that most of the specimens show banded structures which may correspond to surface relief characteristics of as-grown crystals. Banded structures, which are different from domain structures, possess structural characteristics similar to those of martensite variants in various alloys and ceramics. The stresses produced during transformation were relieved by the formation of the banded structures and the 90° domain structures, suggesting that the band structures and 90° domains are the products of self-accommodation in as-grown PbTiO3 crystals during the cubic/tetragonal (C/T) transformation. Image characteristics imply that banded-structure-induced domain intersections may store high strain energy in lead titanate crystals and therefore hinder polarization switching of the crystals.