Tem observation of polar domains in relaxor ferroelectric Pb(Mg1/3Nb2/3)O3

Abstract

Polar domains of the relaxor ferroelectric Pb(Mg1/3Nb2/3)O3 were observed by transmission electron microscopy in dark-field images of the fundamental reflection. Macroscopic domain structure of the rhombohedral phase appears below the transition temperature of about 220 K, though microscopic polar domains still exist at the low temperatures. Characteristic change in size and shape of the polar domains was studied in the temperature range of 140 K to 700 K. Chemically ordered domains of nano-meter size were simultaneously observed, and the correlation in position with the polar domains was examined.