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Domain Structure Evolution and Polarization Degradation of [101]‐Oriented 0.74 Pb ( Mg 1/3 Nb 2/3 ) O 3 ‐0.26 PbTiO 3 Single Crystal underCyclic Electric Loadings
Author(s) -
Fang Fei,
Luo Xu,
Yang Wei
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
journal of the american ceramic society
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.9
H-Index - 196
eISSN - 1551-2916
pISSN - 0002-7820
DOI - 10.1111/jace.12028
Subject(s) - electric field , polarization (electrochemistry) , orthorhombic crystal system , monoclinic crystal system , ferroelectricity , materials science , dielectric , crystallography , analytical chemistry (journal) , condensed matter physics , crystal structure , chemistry , physics , optoelectronics , chromatography , quantum mechanics
The polarization degradation of ferroelectrics, reflected in the hysteresis loop as a decrease of remnant polarization, is a serious concern in applications. In situ observation of the polarization and domain structure evolution are carried out for [101]‐Oriented 0.74 Pb ( Mg 1/3 Nb 2/3 ) O 3 ‐0.26 PbTiO 3 ( PMN ‐26 PT ) single crystal under cyclic electric field. Measurements of the polarization hysteresis loops are conducted under a polarized light microscope ( PLM ), which is effective in detecting the domain structure of the single crystal. Prior to the polarization measurements, the crystal was poled. Upon cyclic electric field, reversal of monoclinic ( M B ) takes place, and the phase transition from M B to orthorhombic ( O ) phase occurs under positive field, but not under negative field of an electric cycle at a field magnitude up to 840 V/mm. The polarization loop is asymmetrical with the positive coercive field (+ E c ) much less than the negative one (− E c ). As the field cycles, micro‐cracking occurs preferably in [101] direction, and a sudden drop appears in the curves of polarization versus number of cycles. Upon electric cycling at a field magnitude of 840 V/mm, the negative polarization increases slightly with the cycle number, indicating the rotation of a M B phase toward the applied field direction.