Structural heterogeneity and diffuse scattering in morphotropic lead zirconate-titanate single crystals

• Main Authors: Burkovsky, R. G, Bronwald, Yu. A, Filimonov, A. V, Rudskoy, A. I, Chernyshov, D, Bosak, A, Hlinka, J, Long, X, Ye, Z. -G, Vakhrushev, S. B
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: 26-04-2012
• Subjects: Physics - Materials Science
• DOI: 10.48550/arxiv.1204.5878

Complementary diffuse and inelastic synchrotron X-ray scattering measurements
of lead zirconate-titanate single crystals with composition near the
morphotropic phase boundary (x=0.475) are reported. In the temperature range
293 K < T < 400 K a highly anisotropic quasielastic diffuse scattering is
observed. Above 400 K this scattering disappears. Its main features can be
reproduced by model of inhomogeneous lattice deformations caused by inclusions
of a tetragonal phase into a rhombohedral or monoclinic phase. This observation
supports the idea that PZT at its morphotropic phase boundary is essentially
structurally inhomogeneous.