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Bridging Phases at the Morphotropic Boundaries of Lead-Oxide Solid Solutions

B. Noheda·D. E. Cox
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Abstract

Ceramic solid solutions of PbZr(1-x)TixO3 (PZT) with compositions of about x= 0.50 are well-known for their extraordinarily large piezoelectric responses. The latter are highly anisotropic, and it was recently shown that, for the rhombohedral compositions (x< 0.5), the piezoelectric coefficients were largest away from the polar direction, contrary to common belief. Shortly afterwards a low-symmetry monoclinic phase was observed by synchrotron x-ray diffraction at around x=0.50. Similar behavior and features are also present in a number of related lead-based strongly-piezoelectric single crystals, such as PMN-PT, PZN-PT, and PSN-PT, with piezoelectric coeficients of about 2500 pm/V, the highest values recorded to date. Recent experimental and theoretical work has greatly improved our understanding of these technologically-important systems, but there are still some open questions. In this review we try to summarize the most recent progress in the field.

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B. Noheda, D. E. Cox. 2005-11-10. Bridging Phases at the Morphotropic Boundaries of Lead-Oxide Solid Solutions. https://arxiv.org/abs/cond-mat/0511256

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