Pyroelectric sensor based on Pb(Mg1/3Nb2/3)1-xTixO3 single crystals for solid state hydrogen storage reactors

Abstract

The pyroelectric effect is commonly used to construct infrared radiation detectors. To pay attention to the possibility of using this phenomenon in materials based on relaxor-ferroelectric such as Pb(Mg1/3Nb2/3)1-xTixO3 (lead titanium-lead magnesium niobate), single crystals from solid solution were grown using modified Bridgman method with x taken three different range (x = 0.25, 0.33 and 0.40).In this work the operation principles for pyroelectric sensor and their properties are presented, with a brief review on the temperature stability of the Pb(Mg1/3Nb2/3)O3–xPbTiO3 (PMN–xPT) single crystals. It was shown that the pyroelectric and dielectric properties are strongly dependent on composition (PT content), as well as the temperature variation. The investigations have revealed that the best choice for pyroelectric performances is <111>oriented PMN–0.25 PT, although, the PMN–0.33 PT and PMN–0.40 PT owns much better temperature stability, and higher Curie temperature Tc.The PMN–xPT single crystals showed promising pyroelectric performances, they can be used as thermal sensors and may be associated with temperature management systems to improve the performance of solid state hydrogen reactors.