Effect of annealing atmosphere on domain structures and electromechanical properties of Pb(Zn1/3Nb2/3)O3-based ceramics

Abstract

Annealing atmosphere effects on domain structures and electrical properties of Pb[(Zn1/3Nb2/3)0.5(Zr0.47Ti0.53)0.5]O3 (PZN–PZT) ferroelectric materials were investigated. The PZN–PZT specimens were annealed in argon, air, oxygen, and PbZrO3 atmospheres after being sintered at 1100 °C in air. The as-sintered specimens were composed of large plate-like domains. When the specimen was annealed in flowing oxygen atmosphere for 8 h at 960 °C, the domains were refined into fine twin-like domains; whereas when the specimen was annealed in argon atmosphere, the domains were modified into needle-like structures. These modifications to the domain structures have a strong effect on the electromechanical properties of this material. The formation and redistribution of lead and oxygen vacancies during thermal annealing were responsible for those variations in domain structures and electrical properties.