Effect of annealing atmosphere on domain structures and electromechanical properties of Pb(Zn1/3Nb2/3)O-3-based ceramics

Annealing atmosphere effects on domain structures and electrical properties of Pb[(Zn1/3Nb2/3)(0.5)(Zr0.47Ti0.53)(0.5)]O-3 (PZN-PZT) ferroelectric mat erials were investigated. The PZN-PZT specimens were annealed in argon, air , oxygen, and PbZrO3 atmospheres after being sintered at 1100 degreesC in a ir. The as-sintered specimens were composed of large plate-like domains. Wh en the specimen was annealed in flowing oxygen atmosphere for 8 h at 960 de greesC, the domains were refined into fine twin-like domains; whereas when the specimen was annealed in argon atmosphere, the domains were modified in to needle-like structures. These modifications to the domain structures hav e a strong effect on the electromechanical properties of this material. The formation and redistribution of lead and oxygen vacancies during thermal a nnealing were responsible for those variations in domain structures and ele ctrical properties. (C) 2001 American Institute of Physics.