Single Crystal of the Pb(Zn_1/3Nb_2/3)O₃–PbTiO₃ System Grown by the Vertical Bridgeman Method and Its Characterization

Abstract

A large single crystal (about 30 mm in diameter by 20 mm long) of the Pb(Zn 1/3 Nb 2/3 )O 3 –PbTiO 3 (PZN–PT) solid solution system was successfully grown using the vertical Bridgeman method and its properties were investigated. No defects such as flux inclusions were observed on as-polished {100} plates, except in a small area near the nucleation point. Further, a domain structure with striped patterning, and an opaque area were observed in the light yellow plate. Distribution of the temperature of transition ( T RT ) from the ferroelectric rhombohedral phase to the tetragonal phase was investigated within the {100} plates. Transition temperatures were found to be scattered in the range of 48°C to 103°C across the area of these plates. Small rectangular samples poled along the [001] direction and cut along the [100] direction from (001) plates containing 9.5 to 10 mol% of PbTiO 3 , and with a transition temperature of T RT =70–90°C, exhibited high electromechanical coupling constants (rectangular bar mode, k 33 ′ >85%) at room temperature.