Polarization fatigue in Pb(Zn1/3Nb2/3)O-3-PbTiO3 ferroelectric single crystals

Pb(Zn1/3Nb2/3)O-3-PbTiO3 (PZN-PT) single crystal ferroelectrics have been s tudied to determine the relative rates of polarization fatigue. It was rece ntly found that ferroelectrics with the rhombohedral phase in the PZN-PT so lid solution have essentially no polarization fatigue in the [001](C) direc tions (all of the orientations in this article will be given in terms of th e prototype cubic (m3m) axes, denoted by the subscript C). In this study, w e expand upon this observation to correlate fatigue rates more completely w ith respect to composition, orientation, temperature, and electric field st rength. It is inferred that an engineered domain state in relaxor based fer roelectric crystals with the spontaneous polarization inclined to the norma l of the electrode is associated with negligible or no fatigue at room temp erature. However, if thermal history, temperature, or field strength induce s a phase transition that produces a polarization parallel to the normal of electrode, these orientations fatigue. The relative fatigue rates are also studied as a function of temperature. In directions, such as [111](C) in t he ferroelectric rhombohedral phase, the polarization fatigues at room temp erature, but as temperature is increased the fatigue rate systematically de creases. This is explained in terms of a thermally activated process that l imits the net fatigue rate of ferroelectrics. In summary, this article give s information on the polarization states and orientation that control fatig ue in ferroelectric crystals with a relaxor end member. (C) 2001 American I nstitute of Physics.