Piezoelectric non-linearity in PbSc0.5Ta0.5O3 thin films

Epitaxial (001)-oriented PbSc_0.5Ta_0.5O₃ (PST) thin films were deposited by pulsed laser deposition. Local piezoelectric investigations performed by piezoelectric force microscopy show a dual slope for the piezoelectric coefficient. A piezoelectric coefficient of 3 pm/V was observed at voltages up to 0.8 V. However, at voltages above 0.8 V, there is a steep increase in piezoelectric coefficient mounting to 23.2 pm/V. This nonlinear piezoelectric response was observed to be irreversible in nature. In order to better understand this nonlinear behavior, voltage dependent dielectric constant measurements were performed. These confirmed that the piezoelectric non-linearity is indeed a manifestation of a dielectric non-linearity. In contrast to classical ferroelectric systems, the observed dielectric non-linearity in this relaxor material cannot be explained by the Rayleigh model. Thus the dielectric non-linearity in the PST films is tentatively explained as a manifestation of a percolation of the polar nano regions.     

Lattice dynamics and ferroelectric instability in ordered and disordered PbSc<Subscript>1/2</Subscript>Ta<Subscript>1/2</Subscript>O<Subscript>3</Subscript> and PbSc<Subscript>1/2</Subscript>Nb<Subscript>1/2</Subscript>O<Subscript>3</Subscript> solid solutions

The dynamic Born charges and the frequency spectra of lattice oscillations in the crystals of ordered and disordered PbSc_1/2Ta_1/2O₃ (PST) and PbSc_1/2Nb_1/2O₃ (PSN) solid solutions have been calculated within the framework of the generalized Gordon-Kim model with allowance for the dipole and quadrupole polarizabilities. The phonon spectra of both compounds contain ferroelectric soft modes. The influence of various interactions on the magnitude of dynamic charges and ferroelectric instability in PSN and PST solid solutions has been studied and it is shown that both these charges and the ferroelectric instability are determined by the competition between long-range dipole-dipole interactions and short-range dipole-charge interactions, the determining role played by the interaction of Nb (Ta) cations and oxygen anions in the Nb-O (Ta-O) bond direction.     

Phase separation with charge self-organization in the Tb0.95Bi0.05MnO3, Gd0.75Ce0.25Mn2O5, and Eu0.8Ce0.2Mn2O5 manganite multiferroics

New doped manganite multiferroics Tb_0.95Bi_0.05MnO₃, Gd_0.75Ce_0.25Mn₂O₅, and Eu_0.8Ce_0.2Mn₂O₅, which are semiconductors, have been grown and studied. The starting dielectric multiferroics TbMnO₃ and RMn₂O₅ (R = Gd and Eu) have close magnetic and ferroelectric ordering temperatures of 30–40 K. The crystals studied are multiferroics in which states with giant permittivity and ferromagnetism coexist at room temperature. An analysis of the dielectric properties suggests that, at temperatures T ≥ 180 K, these crystals undergo a phase separation involving dynamic periodic alternation of quasi-2D layers of mixed-valence manganese ions, a process accounting for the onset of charge-induced ferroelectricity. At low temperatures (T < 100 K), a small phase volume in the crystals is occupied by as-grown quasi-2D layers containing dopants and carriers. Most of the crystal volume is occupied by the carrier-free dielectric phase. Thermally activated hopping conduction involving carrier self-organization in the crystal matrix with ferroelectric frustrations drives a phase transition to the state of charge-induced ferroelectricity at T ∼ 180 K. Original Russian Text ? V.A. Sanina, E.I. Golovenchits, V.G. Zalesskiĭ, 2008, published in Fizika Tverdogo Tela, 2008, Vol. 50, No. 5, pp. 874–882.     

Evolution of the ferroelectric phase in ?001?-oriented (100 ? x )PbMg1/3Nb2/3O3- x PbTiO3 single crystals

The effect of a dc electric field on the nucleation and evolution of the phase with long-range order in a cubic nonpolar matrix in 〈001〉-oriented (100 − x)PbMg_1/3Nb_2/3O₃-xPbTiO₃ single-crystal relaxors as the content of PbTiO₃ is gradually increased (6 ≤ x ≤ 20, where x is the PbTiO₃ content given in molecular percent) is investigated. The optical properties of these solid solutions are studied in different modes of application of an electric field. It is shown that an applied electric field with a strength above a threshold value induces a first-order ferroelectric phase transition with a temperature hysteresis occurring between measurements performed under cooling and heating of the crystal in the electric field. As the PbTiO₃ content or electric field strength increases, the hysteresis becomes less pronounced and the first-order phase transition is suppressed. At x ∼ 20, the induced transition resembles a second-order rather than first-order transformation. It is assumed that, for compositions with x > 10 in electric fields higher than 4 kV/cm, the formation of the rhombohedral phase is accompanied by the appearance of another (possibly, monoclinic) phase associated with the rotation of the polarization vector from the [111] direction of the rhombohedral phase to the [001] direction of the tetragonal phase. Original Russian Text ? L.S. Kamzina, E.V. Snetkova, I.P. Raevskiĭ, A.S. Emel’yanov, Jiayue Xu, Weidong Xiang, 2007, published in Fizika Tverdogo Tela, 2007, Vol. 49, No. 4, pp. 725–730.     

Structures and elastic properties of paraelectric and ferroelectric KTa0.5Nb0.5O3 from first-principles calculation

The structures, elastic properties and intrinsic hardness of B-O bonds of KTa_0.5Nb_0.5O₃ crystal in paraelectric and ferroelectric phase structures have been investigated by means of the density functional theory. Both structures are found to be elastically stable and in good agreement with available results. The elastic properties including the bulk modulus, shear modulus and Young’s modulus change largely during phase transition. The paraelectric KTa_0.5Nb_0.5O₃ crystal is more incompressible and harder than ferroelectric phase. The hardness of KTa_0.5Nb_0.5O₃ crystal is mostly determined by Nb-O bonds and the modifications of the bond strength affect the hardness of the crystal. Charge density contours indicate that the electronic distributions between B-O bonds play an important role in the formation of elastic properties.     

Phase transitions in lead scandoniobate PbSc0.5Nb0.5O3

Crystals of PbSc_0.5Nb_0.5O₃ are investigated by x-ray diffraction and optical spectroscopy. It is found that the phase transformations in PbSc_0.5Nb_0.5O₃ are governed by two mechanisms: displacive ferroelectric phase transitions and consistent rotations of oxygen octahedra.     

Phase transitions in PbSc0.5Ta0.5O3

Ordered and partially ordered PbSc_0.5Ta_0.5O₃ ferroelectric single crystals are studied by diffraction, electrophysical, and optical methods. X-ray diffraction and electrophysical methods indicate the presence of a phase transition in the low-temperature range (at T = ?40°C).     

Concentration dependence of the compositional order-disorder phase-transition temperature in the solid solution PbSc0.5Nb0.5O3-PbSc0.5Ta0.5O3

The degree of compositional order S of crystals of the complete series of solid solutions (1−x)PbSc_0.5Nb_0.5O₃-xPbSc_0.5Ta_0.5O₃ grown under identical conditions is determined by x-ray examination. The form of the dependence S(x) and the variations of S for different compositions, after high-temperature annealing, indicate that the concentration dependence of the compositional order-disorder phase-transition temperature is close to linear in the given system of solid solutions. Fiz. Tverd. Tela (St. Petersburg) 41, 1828–1830 (October 1999)     

Statistical mechanics of cation ordering in PbSc<Subscript>1/2</Subscript>Ta<Subscript>1/2</Subscript>O<Subscript>3</Subscript> and PbSc<Subscript>1/2</Subscript>Nb<Subscript>1/2</Subscript>O<Subscript>3</Subscript> solid solutions

A model Hamiltonian for B cation ordering (Sc-Nb(Ta)) in PbSc_1/2Nb_1/2O₃ and PbSc_1/2Ta_1/2O₃ solid solutions is constructed. The parameters of the model Hamiltonian are determined from the ab initio calculation within the ionic crystal model with allowance made for the deformability and the dipole and quadrupole polarizabilities of the ions. The temperatures of the phase transition due to the ordering of the B cations are calculated by the Monte Carlo method in the mean-field and cluster approximations. The phase transition temperatures calculated by the Monte Carlo method (1920 K for PbSc_1/2Ta_1/2O₃ and 1810 K for PbSc_1/2Nb_1/2O₃) are consistent with the experimental data (1770 and 1450 K, respectively). The thermodynamic properties of the cation ordering are investigated using the Monte Carlo method.     

三方和四方相PbZr0.5Ti0.5O3 的结构稳定性和电子结构的第一性原理研究

采用基于密度泛函理论的第一性原理超原胞方法和虚晶近似方法, 在局域密度近似和广义梯度近似下系统研究了三方相和四方相 PbZr_0.5Ti_0.5O₃的能量稳定性、原子结构以及电子结构. 计算结果表明三方相的能量比四方相低, 说明三方相结构更加稳定, 并且发现利用广义梯度近似计算的结构参数与实验值符合得更好. 电子结构表明, 两种相的Ti/Zr的3d电子和O的2p电子间存在明显的轨道杂化, 并且Ti-O之间的作用比Zr-O作用更强;Pb的6s和5d电子与O的2s和2p电子也分别存在轨道杂化. 而三方相中Pb的5d电子与O的2s电子杂化比四方相更强, 进一步说明三方相比四方相结构更加稳定.     

Ordering and diffuse phase transitions in Pb(Sc0.5Ta0.5)O3 ceramics

The ordering of the Sc³⁺ and Ta⁵⁺ ions in Pb (Sc_0.5Ta_0.5) O₃ can be varied by proper heat treatments (1000–1500°C). The ferroelectric → paraelectric transition is strongly influenced by this ordering. With decreasing order parameter Ω the phase transition becomes more diffuse and a number of properties show strong changes.     

Evolution from relaxor-like dielectric to ferroelectric in Ba[(Fe0.5Nb0.5)1−xTix]O3 solid solutions

Ba[(Fe_0.5Nb_0.5)_1−xTi_x]O₃ (x=0.2,0.4,0.6,0.8,0.85,0.9 and 0.95) solid solutions were synthesized by a standard solid-state reaction technique. X-ray diffraction at room temperature and dielectric characteristics over a broad temperature and frequency range were evaluated systematically. The structure of Ba[(Fe_0.5Nb_0.5)_1−xTi_x]O₃ solid solutions changed from cubic to tetragonal with increasing x. A Debye-like dielectric relaxation following the Arrhenius law similar to that in Ba(Fe_0.5Nb_0.5)O₃ was observed at lower temperature in the composition range 0.2≤x≤0.8, while the relaxor ferroelectric, diffused ferroelectric and normal ferroelectric behavior were observed for x=0.85,0.9 and 0.95, respectively. The process of the evolution of relaxor-like dielectric to ferroelectric suggested the changing from dilute polar micro-domains to polar micro-domains, polar micro/macro-domains and then polar macro-domains in the present ceramics.     

Study of ferroelectric phase transitions in disordered PbSc<Subscript>1/2</Subscript>Nb<Subscript>1/2</Subscript>O<Subscript>3</Subscript> and PbSc<Subscript>1/2</Subscript>Ta<Subscript>1/2</Subscript>O<Subscript>3</Subscript> solid solutions

Ferroelectric phase transitions and thermodynamic properties of disordered PbSc_1/2Ta_1/2O₃ and PbSc_1/2Nb_1/2O₃ solid solutions have been investigated by the Monte Carlo method. The parameters of the effective Hamiltonian were calculated within the generalized Gordon-Kim model. The obtained values of the phase-transition temperatures and spontaneous polarization are in satisfactory agreement with the experimental data.     

First-principles study on the geometric and electronic structures and phase transition of PbZr1-xTixO3 solid solutions

With first-principles virtual-crystal approximation calculations, we systematically investigate the geometric and elec- tronic structures as well as the phase transition of lead zirconate titanate (PbZr1-xTixO3 or PZT) as a function of Ti content for the whole range of 0 ≤ x Ti ≤ 1. It can be found that, with the increase of the Ti content, the PbZr1-xTixO3 solid solu- tions undergo a rhombohedral-to-tetragonal phase transition, which is consistent with the experimental results. In addition, we also show the evolution in geometric and electronic structures of rhombohedral and tetragonal PbZr1-x TixO3 with the increasing content of Ti.     

Acoustic properties of the disordered relaxor ferroelectric PbSc1/2Ta1/2O3

The behavior of acoustic phonons in crystals of a relaxor ferroelectric, namely, the lead scandium tantalate PbSc_1/2Ta_1/2O₃ (PST), is studied in the vicinity of the diffuse phase transition. The behavior of longitudinal and transverse acoustic phonons in a PST single crystal is examined using Brillouin scattering. The phonon subsystem is found to behave anomalously in the vicinity of T = 297 K, which can probably be assigned to the existence of a phase transition. Analysis of the results obtained yields the values of the elastic moduli C₁₁, C₁₂, and C₄₄ for the cubic phase of the crystal over a wide temperature range.     

Ferroelectric relaxor behaviour in Pb(Fe0.5Ta0.5)O3

The relaxor ferroelectric lead iron tantalate, Pb(Fe_0.5Ta_0.5)O₃ (PFT) is synthesized by Coulombite precursor method. The X-ray diffraction pattern of the sample at room temperature shows a cubic phase. The field dependence of dielectric response is measured in a frequency range 0.1 kHz — 1 MHz and in a temperature range from 173–373 K. The temperature dependence of permittivity (ɛ′) shows broad maxima at various frequencies. The frequency dependence of the permittivity maximum temperature (T _m ) has been modelled using Vogel-Fulcher relation.      

Microstructure and piezoelectric properties of Bi0.5(Na0.82K0.18)0.5TiO3−NaSbO3 ceramics

Lead-free piezoelectric ceramics (1−x)Bi_0.5(Na_0.82K_0.18)_0.5TiO₃−xNaSbO₃ have been prepared by a conventional ceramics technique, and their microstructure and electrical properties have been investigated. The addition of NaSbO₃ has no remarkable effect on the crystal structure within the studied doping content; however, an obvious change in microstructure took place. With increase in NaSbO₃ content, the temperature from a ferroelectric to antiferroelectric phase transition increases, and the temperature for a transition from antiferroelectric phases to paraelectric phases changes insignificantly. Simultaneously, the temperature range between the rhombohedral phase transition point and the Curie temperature point becomes smaller. The piezoelectric properties significantly increase with increase in NaSbO₃ content and the piezoelectric constant and electromechanical coupling factor attain maximum values of d₃₃=160 pC/N and k_p=0.333 at x=0.01. The results indicate that (1−x)Bi_0.5(Na_0.82K_0.18)_0.5TiO₃−xNaSbO₃ ceramic is a promising lead-free piezoelectric candidate material.     

Research on charge-ordering state in La0.5Sr0.5MnO2.88 and La0.5Sr0.5Mn0.5Ti0.5O3 systems

The structural, magnetic and transport properties of La_0.5Sr_0.5MnO_2.88 and La_0.5Sr_0.5Mn_0.5Ti_0.5O₃ samples have been investigated systematically. Indeed, this series has been considered to understand the influence of physical parameters such as oxygen deficiency and titanium doping effect in undoped La_0.5Sr_0.5MnO₃ sample. Ceramic material based on La_0.5Sr_0.5MnO_2.88 exhibits interesting behaviours of charge-ordering (CO), ferromagnetic (FM) states and a good conductivity down to the lowest temperatures. The substitution of Ti for Mn destroyed drastically the CO, damaged the motion of itinerant e_g electrons and changed the local parameters of perovskite cell. A change of the structure from tetragonal to rhombohedral symmetry is observed causing a weakening of double-exchange interaction. The experiment results show that the suppression of the CO is sensitive to the variety of Mn³⁺/Mn⁴⁺ ratio. In a field of 8 T at 10 K, FM and CO phase can be evaluated to be ∼20:80 according to the μ_exp/μ_cal ratio for La_0.5Sr_0.5MnO_2.88, whereas the CO state is suppressed for La_0.5Sr_0.5Mn_0.5Ti_0.5O₃ sample, FM and anti-ferromagnetic (AFM) phase are coexisted and evaluated to be ∼54:46, respectively.     

Description of ferroelectric phase transitions in solid solutions of relaxors in the framework of the random-field theory

A model based on the random-field theory is proposed for calculating the properties of solid solutions of ferroelectric relaxors. The electric dipoles randomly distributed in the system are treated as sources of random fields. The random field distribution function is calculated taking into account the contribution of nonlinear and correlation effects and the differences in the dipole orientations for different solid solution components. The dependence of the phase transition temperature T _c on the concentration of solid solution components is analyzed. Numerical calculations are performed for the lead scandoniobate and lead scandotantalate solid solutions (PbSc_1/2Nb_1/2O₃)_1?x (PbSc_1/2Ta_1/2O₃)_x with different degrees of ordering and the lead magnoniobate and lead titanate solid solution (PbMg_1/3Nb_2/3O₃)_1?x (PbTiO₃)_x. It is shown that the higher transition temperature for more disordered solid solutions of the composition (PbSc_1/2Nb_1/2O₃)_1?x (PbSc_1/2Ta_1/2O₃)_x in the range 0≤x<0.5 is associated with the larger nonlinearity coefficient for PbSc_1/2Nb_1/2O₃ as compared to that for PbSc_1/2Ta_1/2O₃. The theory provides a means for calculating the region of the coexistence of the phases with different symmetry groups in the temperature-composition phase diagram of the (PbMg_1/3Nb_2/3O₃)_1?x (PbTiO₃) solid solution. Numerical calculations with the use of the fitting parameters obtained from the known transition temperatures T _c for the solid solution components adequately describe the experimental phase diagrams for the aforementioned solid solutions of ferroelectric relaxors.     

Phase transitions in solid solutions (1 ? x)BaTiO3-xBaMg1/3B2/3O3 (B = Nb, Ta)

The dielectric properties of ceramic samples of (1 − x)BaTiO₃-xBaMg_1/3Nb_2/3O₃ and (1 − x)BaTio₃-xBaMg_1/3Ta_2/3O₃ solid solutions (x = 0–0.25) are investigated in the frequency range from 10 Hz to 100 kHz at temperatures of 77–450 K. It is shown that the (x−T) phase diagrams of these solid solutions at x = 0.05 have a multiphase point at which the lines of all three phase transitions of BaTiO₃ converge. Original Russian Text ? V.G. Zalesskiĭ, V.V. Lemanov, E.P. Smirnova, A.V. Sotnikov, N. V. Zaĭtseva, 2007, published in Fizika Tverdogo Tela, 2007, Vol. 49, No. 1, pp. 108–112.