Investigation of Intrinsic Defect Structure in 0.91Pb(Zn1/3Nb2/3)O3–0.09PbTiO3 Single Crystal through AC Conductivity

Abstract

Complex impedance spectroscopy study was done on 0.91Pb(Zn1/3Nb2/3)O3–0.09PbTiO3 (PZN–PT) single crystals in the wide range of temperatures (25–525°C) and frequencies (1 kHz–1 MHz). The ac conductivity was computed from the impedance data and the activation energy for conduction at different frequencies was determined. Frequency explicit plots of imaginary components of impedance exhibit Debye-like peak shapes. Cole–Cole diagrams were observed in the high temperature regime. Temperature dependent conductivity measurement and Cole–Cole plots fairly establish the existence of quenched random defects in the PZN–PT system.