Quantification of polarization distribution from polarizing light microscopy images of ferroelectric single crystals

Qualification of polarization can be realized either on a macroscopic scale as an average property by P-E hysteresis measurements or on a nano/micro scale by piezoelectric force microscopy,transmission electron microscopy,scanning electron microscopy,and so on.However,visualization and qualification of polarization distribution in the micron to millimeter scale is still a challenge.Polarizing light microscopy(PLM)is often used in the study of ferroelectric domain structures mainly for domain patterns.A phe-nomenon called“chromatic polarization”has been observed in transparent ferroelectric crystals by using a crossed-PLM system viewed with white light,which contains rich information about local polariza-tion distribution.In this study,an automatic full-angle light intensity detection(AFALID)algorithm com-bined with colorimetry is developed to analyze the distribution of nonuniform local spontaneous polar-ization distribution in transparent ferroelectric single crystals.Temperature-dependent spontaneous po-larizations from the color analysis for PMN-0.36PT single crystals with single tetragonal domain state are in good coincidence with those extracted from temperature-dependent hysteresis loops and pyroelectric current measurements.We further apply this method to quantify the nonuniform domain distributions with nano-indentations.This non-contact and non-destructive characterization can provide fast and au-tomatic detection of polarization distributions in ferroelectric materials.

Interplay between polarization rotation and crack propagation in PMN-PT relaxor single crystals

Investigations on the interconnection between the polarization rotation and crack propagation are performed for [110J-oriented 74Pb（Mg1/3Nb2/3）O3- 26PbTiO3 relaxor ferroelectric single crystal under electric loadings along [001] direction. The crystal is of predominantly monoclinic MA phase with scatter dis- tributed rhombohedral （R） phase under a moderate poling field of 900 V/mm in [00l] direction. With magnitude of 800 V/ram, a through thickness crack is initi- ated near the electrode by electric cycling. Static electric loadings is then imposed to the single crystal. As the applied static electric field increases, domain switch- ing in the monoclinic MA phase and phase transition from MA to R phase occur near the crack. The results indicate that the crack features a conducting one. Whether domain switching or phase transition occurs depends on the intensity of the electric field component that is perpendicular to the applied electric field.

High sensitivity gravimetric sensor made of unidirectional carbon fiber epoxy composite on (1-x)Pb(Zn_(1/3)Nb_(2/3))O_3-xPbTiO_3 single crystal substrate

We have derived a general formula for sensitivity optimization of gravimetric sensors and have used it to design a high sensitivity gravimetric sensor using unidirectional carbon fiber epoxy composite （CFEC） waveguide layer on （1 -x）Pb（Znl/3Nbz/3）O3-xPbTiO3 （PZN-xPT） single crystal substrate with the carbon fibers parallel to the xj and x2 axes, respectively. The normalized maximum sensitivity （｜sfm｜λ）max exhibits an increasing tendency with the decrease of （h/λ）opt and the maximum sensitivity （｜sfm｜λ）max increases with the elastic constant c6E6 of the piezoelectric substrate material. For the CFEC/[011]c poled PZN-7%PT single crystal sensor configuration, with the carbon fibers parallel to the xa axis at λ = 24 ktm, the maximum sensitivity ｜sfm｜max can reach as high as 1156 cmZ/g, which is about three times that of a traditional SiO2/ST quartz structure gravimetric sensor. The better design selection is to have the carbon fibers parallel to the direction of propagation of Love wave in order to obtain the best sensitivity.

Boosting the piezoelectric property of relaxor ferroelectric single crystal via active manipulation of defect dipole polarization

To further enhance the property of piezoelectric materials is of great significance to improve the overall performance of electro-mechanical devices.Here in this work,we propose a thermal annealing and high temperature poling approach to achieve significantly enhanced piezoelectricity in Pb(In_(1/2)Nb_(1/2))O_(3)single bondPb(Mg_(1/3)Nb_(2/3))O_(3)single bondPbTiO_(3)(PIN-PMN-PT)crystals with a morphotropic phase boundary(MPB)composition.The main idea of our approach is to realize a more sufficiently polarized crystal via active manipulation of defects and orientation of defect polarization.Manipulation of defect dipoles by the high temperature poling is proved by the piezo-response force microscopy.Finally,a d_(33)of 3300 pC/N and a SE of 0.25%are obtained,nearly 60%higher than that of conventionally poled crystals.Moreover,such a boosting of piezoelectric property is obtained under a maintained Curie temperature.Our research not only reveals the active control of defect dipole via modified poling method in the PIN-PMN-PT crystal,but also provides a feasible strategy to further improve the property of piezoelectric materials.

The growth status of relaxor-based ferroelectric crystals and their development trends

Our progress in the growth of ternary system Pb(In_(1/2)Nb_(1/2))O_(3)–Pb(Mg_(1/3)Nb_(2/3))O_(3)–PbTiO_(3)(PIMNT)crystals and reviews on the possible developing trends in the piezoelectric crystals are presented.Large PIMNT crystals with 3 inches in diameter have been grown by using a modified Bridgman method.Meanwhile,Mn-doped PIMNT crystals have also been obtained.PIMNT crystals exhibit Curie temperature Tc
190C,rhombohedral–tetragonal phase transition temperature Trt>100℃ and coercive field Ec
5:0–7.0 kV/cm on(001)cuts.Meanwhile,higher piezoelectric constant d_(32)-1500–2200 pC/N,d_(15)
4000–6000 pC/N and coercive field E_(c)-7:0–9.0 kV/cm have been achieved on(110)cuts.The development trends of relaxor-based ferroelectric crystals are suggested to grow novel crystals with high rhombohedral–tetragonal phase transition temperature T_(rt)>150-160℃ and/or high coercive field Ec and mechanical quality factor Q_(m),to promote growth efficiency of PIMNT crystals and to create new growth methods fitting for the growth of metastable or instable crystals.

弛豫铁电单晶PMNT的生长及压电性能

It is difficult for the growth of relaxor ferroelectric single crystal (1 x ) Pb(Mg 1/3 Nb 2/3 )O 3 x PbTiO 3 (abbreviated as PMNT).The first reason is that there are four oxides as raw materials which are easily result in the nonstoichiometry and inhomogeneity for the single crystals,the second is that the pyrochlore phases appear easily for general growth condition that will reduce the dielectric and piezoelectric performance of PMNT single crystals,and the third is that the platinum crucible is easily leaked at the melting temperature of PMNT.A feasible technique has been used for the growth of PMNT single crystals after we researched the stability,structure and relation of PMN PT phases at high temperature.Now we can fabricate the large size and high quality of PMNT single crystals by a modified Bridgman technique.

Spurious-mode vibrations caused by alternating current poling and their solution process for Pb(Mg_(1/3)Nb_(2/3))O_(3)-PbTiO_(3) single crystals

The effects of alternating current poling(ACP)at 80℃on electrical properties of[001]-oriented 0.72 Pb(Mg_(1/3)Nb_(2/3))O_(3)-0.28PbTiO_(3)(PMN-28PT)single crystals(SCs)have been investigated.The square-wave ACP SCs poled at high voltage(HV,5 kV_(rms)/cm)occasionally showed large fluctuations and low opposite values of piezoelectric coefficient(d_(33)=±1370 pC/N)in one plate.This revealed spuriousmode vibrations(SMV)of impedance spectrum.However,after depolarizing and repolarizing the sample with a sine-wave ACP at low voltage(LV,3.5 kV_(rms)/cm),the d_(33) enhanced to be 1720 pC/N(+26%)and did not exhibit large fluctuation or opposite values in one plate any more.The impedance spectrum became clean and the abnormal SMV disappeared.We proposed four possible mechanisms of the SMV,and speculate that the main cause maybe by macro-scale sub-domain structure and/or phase change in the main domain structure and/or phase in the SC plate due to the specific poling conditions not eternal mechanical damage of PMN-PT SCs.This study will be useful to realize a high d_(33) and improve other properties of PMN-PT ACP SC ultrasonic transducers without any SMV for high-frequency medical imaging equipment.

Research on the relaxor ferroelectric single crystal flexural beam vector hydrophone

A two-dimensional vector hydrophone was developed utilizing the PMN-PT relaxor ferroelectric single crystal,which is composed of a dual-axis piezoelectric composite flexural beam accelerometer and PZT-5 piezoelectric ceramic rings.Based on the principle of elastic mechanics and underwater particle velocity measurement,the receiving voltage sensitivity of the flexural beam vector hydrophone is derived.The influence of stress distribution in the flexural beam on the performance of hydrophones is analyzed,and the match between PMNPT single crystal cells and the structure of flexural beam is studied.The tested results indicate that the PMN-PT hydrophone presents an 11 dB increase in sensitivity and a 3 dB decrease in self-noise than the PZT-5 one.

Bio-inspired flexible vibration visualization sensor based on piezo-electrochromic effect

Monitoring structural vibration can provide quantitative information for both structural health evaluations and early-warning maintenance.The most classic vibration-based structural health monitoring is equipped with piezoelectric accelerometers,which is expensive and inconvenient due to cumbersome and time-consuming sensor installation and high power-consumptive data acquisition systems.One other main challenge with these systems is the inherent limitations for multi-point monitoring in critical elements with curvature due to their non-conformability.Here,inspired by the chameleon,we report a cost-effective,flexible and conformal,self-powered vibration sensor based on elasto-electro-chemical synergistic effect of piezoelectricity and electrochromism.The sensor can provide not only in-situ visualization,but also ex-situ recording of structural vibration due to the non-volatile color memory effect of electrochromism.The passive sensor system is composed of two distinct electronic components d ternary Pb(In1/2Nb1/2)O_(3)ePb(Mg1/3Nb2/3)O_(3)ePbTiO_(3)piezoelectric single crystal ribbon sensors and a solid-state tungsten trioxide electrochromic indicator driven by vibration-induced voltage generated by the piezoelectric ribbons.The proposed piezo-electrochromic based passive non-volatile visualization sensor may find diverse applications in structural health monitoring,smart wallpapers,and medical injury rehabilitation.