Ceramic solid solutions of PbZr(1-x)TixO3 (PZT) with compositions of about x= 0.50 are well-known for their extraordinarily large piezoelectric responses. The latter are highly anisotropic, and it was recently shown that, for the rhombohedral compositions (x< 0.5), the piezoelectric coefficients were largest away from the polar direction, contrary to common belief. Shortly afterwards a low-symmetry monoclinic phase was observed by synchrotron x-ray diffraction at around x=0.50. Similar behavior and features are also present in a number of related lead-based strongly-piezoelectric single crystals, such as PMN-PT, PZN-PT, and PSN-PT, with piezoelectric coeficients of about 2500 pm/V, the highest values recorded to date. Recent experimental and theoretical work has greatly improved our understanding of these technologically-important systems, but there are still some open questions. In this review we try to summarize the most recent progress in the field.
@article{arxiv.cond-mat/0511256,
title = {Bridging Phases at the Morphotropic Boundaries of Lead-Oxide Solid Solutions},
author = {B. Noheda and D. E. Cox},
journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:cond-mat/0511256},
year = {2007}
}
Comments
To appear in Phase Transitions special issue -'Phase transitions in giant piezoelectrics'- dedicated to the memory of Gen Shirane