Open AccessPbZn 1/3 Nb 2/3 O 3 at 4.2 and 295 K
Author(s) -
Kisi Erich H.,
Forrester Jennifer S.,
Knight Kevin S.
Publication year - 2006
Publication title -
acta crystallographica section c
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 1600-5759
pISSN - 0108-2701
DOI - 10.1107/s0108270106011991
Subject(s) - trigonal crystal system , ferroelectricity , crystal structure , neutron diffraction , materials science , piezoelectricity , crystallography , niobium , polarization (electrochemistry) , condensed matter physics , lattice (music) , diffraction , symmetry (geometry) , chemistry , physics , dielectric , optics , geometry , mathematics , optoelectronics , acoustics , metallurgy , composite material
The structure of the relaxor ferroelectric lead zinc niobium trioxide, Pb(Zn 1/3 Nb 2/3 )O 3 , known as PZN, was determined at 4.2 and 295 K from very high resolution neutron powder diffraction data. The material is known for its extraordinary piezoelectric properties which are closely linked to the structure. Pseudo‐cubic lattice parameters have led to considerable controversy over the symmetry of the structure, which was found to be rhombohedral in the space group R 3 m at both temperatures. Atomic coordinates have been determined for the first time. They show that, whereas the deviation of the rhombohedral angle from 90° approaches zero at 295 K, the atomic coordinates do not approach typical cubic positions and hence the polarization remains high.