Influence of the electric field on structural transformations and phase boundary for PMg1/3Nb2/3O3-xPbTiO3 single crystals

Abstract

The influence of different regimes of application of a dc electric field (0 < E < 4 kV/cm) on structural phase transformations and behavior of the phase boundary in [001]-oriented single crystals PMg1/3Nb2/3O3-xPbTiO3 (PMN-xPT) with compositions near the morphotropic phase boundary (x = 28 and 32%) and far from it (x = 13%) has been investigated. The studies have been performed using optical methods, namely, optical transmittance and small-angle light scattering. It has been revealed that the number, symmetry, and stability of field-induced phases depend on the regime of electric field application. During cooling of the PMN-28PT crystals from the cubic phase in the field (FC regime), the tetragonal phase is induced already in weak fields of ∼0.5 kV/cm, whereas even a field of 3 kV/cm is insufficient for inducing this phase by applying the field in the ferroelectric phase. In the PMN-32PT crystal (which has a composition closer to the morphotropic phase boundary as compared to that of the PMN-28PT crystal) in the FC regime and when the field is applied in the ferroelectric phase, the tetragonal phase is induced already in weak electric fields, even though this phase in the latter case appears to be unstable. The E-T phase diagrams have been constructed for different regimes of field application. The possible factors responsible for the observed differences have been discussed.