Characterization of Mn-modified Pb(Mg1∕3Nb2∕3)O3–PbZrO3–PbTiO3 single crystals for high power broad bandwidth transducers

The effect of MnO(2) addition on the dielectric and piezoelectric properties of 0.4Pb(Mg(13)Nb(23))O(3)-0.25PbZrO(3)-0.35PbTiO(3) single crystals was investigated. Analogous to acceptor doping in "hard" Pb(Zr,Ti)O(3) based polycrystalline materials, the Mn doped crystals exhibited enhanced mechanical Q ( approximately 1050) with low dielectric loss ( approximately 0.2%), while maintaining ultrahigh electromechanical coupling k(33)>90%, inherent in domain engineered single crystals. The effect of acceptor doping was also evident in the build-up of an internal bias (E(i) approximately 1.6 kVcm), shown by a horizontal offset in the polarization-field behavior. Together with the relatively high usage temperature (T(R-T) approximately 140 degrees C), the Mn doped crystals are promising candidates for high power and broad bandwidth transducers.