Time-resolved and orientation-dependent electric-field-induced strains in lead zirconate titanate ceramics

• Published in: Applied physics letters Vol. 90; no. 17
• Main Authors: Jones, Jacob L., Pramanick, Abhijit, Nino, Juan C., Maziar Motahari, S., Üstündag, Ersan, Daymond, Mark R., Oliver, Edward C.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: 23-04-2007
• ISSN: 0003-6951; 1077-3118
• DOI: 10.1063/1.2732178

Electric-field-induced lattice strains in a tetragonal ferroelectric lead zirconate titanate bulk ceramic are characterized under application of subcoercive cyclic electric fields using neutron diffraction and a stroboscopic data collection technique. At a driving electric field equal to half of the coercive field, the field-induced lattice strains are found to be a function of orientation with the greatest electric-field-induced strain coefficient of 680pm∕V in crystal orientations such that the 211 pole is parallel to the electric field. A time dependence of the 111 strain was also observed. Suggestions as to the nature of these dependences are discussed.