Time-Resolved, Electric-Field-Induced Domain Switching and Strain in Ferroelectric Ceramics and Crystals

Abstract

Ferroelectric materials are used in a variety of applications including diagnostic and therapeutic ultrasound, sonar, vibration and displacement sensors, and non-volatile random access memory. The electromechanical response in ferroelectric materials is comprised of both intrinsic (piezoelectric lattice strain) and extrinsic (e.g., domain wall motion) components that are expressed as characteristic changes in the diffraction pattern. By applying slow, step-wise changes in the electric field, prior quasi-dynamic diffraction measurements have demonstrated both lattice strains and non-180 ∘ domain switching at fields exceeding the macroscopically defined coercive field. However, the loading conditions which most replicate real device operation involve dynamic actuation with sub-coercive, cyclic electric fields. At these operating conditions, extrinsic irreversibilities lead to hysteresis, frequency dispersion and nonlinearity of macroscopic properties. Observation of strain and domain switching at these cyclic loading conditions is an area in which we have reported recent advances using stroboscopic techniques. This chapter highlights the electric-field-induced lattice strain and kinetics of domain switching in a number of materials including technologically-relevant lead zirconate titanate (PZT) ceramics and relaxor single crystals. An outlook on the continuing use of time-resolved diffraction techniques in the characterization of ferroelectric materials is also discussed.