Cooling-Rate-Dependence of Dielectric Constant and Domain Structures in (1-x)Pb(Mg1/3Nb2/3)O3–xPbTiO3 Single Crystals

The relationship between the dielectric constant and domain structure was investigated on PMN-xPT (x: 0.27, 0.32 and 0.34) single crystals. As Yan et al. already reported, the cooling rate across the freezing temperature (the relaxor-ferroelectric phase transition temperature) affected the dielectric constant in the ferroelectric phase. In this study, it was found that the lead titanate compositions x affected the cooling-rate dependences of the dielectric constant. The dependences of domain structures on cooling-rate and on the composition x corresponded with the dielectric constant behavior. That is, the average domain size decreased as the dielectric constant was reduced. The relationship between the dielectric constant and domain structure is discussed from the viewpoint of the evolution of polar nanosized regions during the relaxor to ferroelectric phase transition.