Piezoelectric activity of relaxor- PbTiO3 based single crystals and polycrystalline ceramics at cryogenic temperatures: Intrinsic and extrinsic contributions

Abstract

The piezoelectric activity in [001] poled Pb (In1/2 Nb 1/2) O3 -Pb (Mg1/3 Nb2/3) O 3 - PbTiO3 crystals was investigated as a function of composition and temperature. The level of intrinsic and/or extrinsic contribution to the total piezoelectric activity was analyzed using Rayleigh method. The results revealed that though 95% of the observed piezoelectric activity in rhombohedral crystals was intrinsic (lattice), the properties decreased significantly with decreasing temperature. At -150 °C, the piezoelectric response decreased by 40%-55% for the compositions close to a morphotropic phase boundary (rhombohedral-monoclinic or monoclinic-tetragonal), while decreasing only 20%-30% for the compositions in the rhombohedral region. The piezoelectric properties of Pb (Mg1/3 Nb2/3) O 3 - PbTiO3 polycrystalline ceramics were found to decrease by 75%, showing both intrinsic and extrinsic contributions play important role in the reduction in piezoelectricity at cryogenic temperatures for ceramics. © 2010 American Institute of Physics.