Domain switching and electromechanical properties of pulse poled Pb(Zn1/3Nb2/3)O3–PbTiO3 crystals

Domain switching behavior is studied under pulse field conditions in (1−x)Pb(Zn1/3Nb2/3)O3–xPbTiO3 single crystals oriented at various crystallographic directions. The activation energy, critical field, and domain wall mobilities are determined from simple methods earlier employed to ferroelectric single crystals by Merz [Phys. Rev. 95, 690 (1954)]. Domain structures were observed by atomic force microscopy of etched surfaces and shown to have a dendritic morphology under pulse conditions. The size and density of these dendritic domains are compared for various pulse conditions and discussed in terms of nucleation and domain growth behavior. The pulsed electric fields were also utilized to pole the crystals in the [001]C directions, and the corresponding piezoelectric strains were determined.