Direct observations of electric field-induced domain boundary cracking in 〈001〉 oriented piezoelectric Pb(Mg1/3Nb2/3)O3–PbTiO3 single crystal

In situ transmission electron microscopy study of electric field-induced cracking has been conducted on 〈001〉 oriented 0.65Pb(Mg1/3Nb2/3)O3–0.35PbTiO3 crystal. Fracture of the 90° domain boundary was directly observed in the tetragonal area under both static and alternating electric fields. The field strength required to induce domain boundary cracking was lower for alternating electric field than for static field.