Effect of sample-preparation history on domain and crystal structure in a relaxor-ferroelectric single crystal

Abstract

The effect of sample-preparation procedures on single crystals of the relaxor-based ferroelectric Pb(Mg1/3Nb2/3)O3–31%PbTiO3 (PMN–31%PT) has been investigated. PMN–31%PT single crystals were treated using the general sample-preparation methods of mechanical polishing and Ar-ion milling. Similar domain structures were artificially induced in both the mechanically polished and the Ar-ion milled PMN–31%PT; this domain structure was not observed in the original PMN–31%PT single crystal. Macroscopic structural investigation using X-ray diffraction showed that these general sample-preparation methods induce a structural change from a monoclinic-like to a tetragonal-like structure. A study of local symmetry also indicated that Ar-ion milling induces a structural change from the original monoclinic-like crystal symmetry to a tetragonal-like crystal symmetry. It is also demonstrated that the conventional sample-preparation methods induce a poling-like effect on PMN–31%PT.