Grain-size effect on ferroelectric Pb(Zr1-xTix)O-3 solid solutions inducedby surface bond contraction - art. no. 184112

Bond contraction in the surface lavers induces a compressive stress on the inner part of a grain and results in a size effect for ferroelectric materi als in the nanometer size range. By using the Landau-Ginsburg-Devonshire fr ee energy approach, the phase transitions and intrinsic ferroelectric prope rties of the lead zirconate titanate solid solution system have been studie d theoretically. It is found that, due to the surface bond contraction, the phase stability is affected by grain size and the size-dependent propertie s show differences in different phases.