Dendritic domain configurations in Pb(Zn1/3Nb2/3)O-3-PbTiO3 single crystals

Domain structures arising as a result of pulsed electric fields are investi gated in Pb(Zn1/3Nb2/3)O-3-PbTiO3 (PZN-PT) < 001 > single crystals by means of etching and environmental scanning electron microscope. It is shown tha t randomly orientated dendritic domain patterns were created under a pulsed electric field condition. The dendritic patterns are believed to be the re sult of local electric field and elastic deformation. Dendritic structures are also found during a back-switching process in 0.92PZN-0.08PT [001] sing le crystals. It is hypothesized that these unusual nonequilibrium domain st ructures are the result of local defects and space charge in the relaxor PZ N-PT crystals. (C) 1999 American Institute of Physics. [S0021-8979(99)03122 -9].