Electric-field-induced strain and piezoelectric properties near the morphotropic phase boundary of Pb(Mg1/3Nb2/3)O3–PbZrO3–PbTiO3 ceramics

The dielectric, piezoelectric properties, and electric-field-induced strains of the 0.2Pb(Mg1/3Nb2/3)O3–xPbZrO3–(0.8−x)PbTiO3 (x=0.30–0.50) compositions close to the morphotropic phase boundary (MPB) have been systematically investigated as a function of PbZrO3 content (x). The phase approached from the tetragonal toward the rhombohedral phase when the PbZrO3 contents (x) increased. The maximum remnant polarization of 32.3 μC/cm2 was observed at the composition of x=0.40 near the MPB, and the specimen of x=0.39 showed the highest transverse strain value of 1.34×10−3 at 23 kV/cm. The values of Kp and d33 (Kp=0.65 and d33=454) showed maximum at the composition x=0.38 which was a tetragonal-rich phase, indicating the enhanced piezoelectric response.