Effect of Crystal Growth Direction on Domain Structure of Mn-Doped (Na,K)NbO3 Crystal

Single crystals of (Na0.55K0.45)(Nb0.995Mn0.005)O3 have been grown by a floating zone method in N2 and decompression atmosphere to avoid alkaline metal volatilization on the SrTiO3 material base. The variation of their ferroelectric domain structure and the chemical composition of the grown crystal in the growth direction were evaluated. In the crystal grown in N2 atmosphere, the Na and K are not distributed homogeneously. In addition, the phase transition temperature T C and T O–T showed different values between the grown crystal and raw material. By using laser scanning confocal microscope, the domain structures of the grown crystal revealed random patterns in the initial growth stage and lamellar patterns in the progressing crystal growth. In decompression atmosphere, the T C and T O–T values of the grown crystal were similar to those of the raw material and the domain structures showed a constant domain size. The electrical property of the crystal became stable and the domain structure was easily switched against applied electrical field because the oriented lamellar domain was created during cooling of the crystal.