A model of short and intermediate range atomic structure in the relaxor ferroelectric Pb(Mg1/3, Nb2/3)O3

Relaxor ferroelectrics are a particularly interesting and technologically important subset of the perovskite family of ferroelectrics. Ferroelectric relaxors undergo a diffuse paraelectric-ferroelectric phase transition, the origin of which is not well understood. An understanding of the microscopic origin of this behavior may lead to a more systematic approach to the development of materials with applications-tailored properties and may provide important insight into the phenomenon of ferroelectricity in general. Recently we reported a model of local atomic structure in the relaxor ferroelectric Pb(Mg1/3, Nb2/3)O3 1. Here we present refinements to that model, and simulated electron diffraction images based upon this model.