Search

Alternating-current poling (AC-Poling) has attracted wide interests in enhancing piezoelectric performance of ferroelectric single crystals. However, the mechanism of phase transformations and domain morphology underlying AC-Poling has not been thoroughly investigated. In this work, we have systematically studied the AC-poling effect on domain structures and piezoelectric properties in the relaxor ferroelectric single crystals of 0.24Pb(In 1/2 Nb 1/2)O 3 –0.44Pb(Mg 1/3 Nb 2/3)O 3 –0.32PbTiO 3. It is shown that the piezoelectric constant (d 33) and permittivity (ε 33) are greatly enhanced via [001]-AC-poling compared to DC-poling, related to the presence of modified domain configurations as indicated previously. For [110]-oriented specimens, the piezoelectricity through AC-poling is only half as that for the DC-poled single crystals. We attribute this to the transition from the monoclinic-B phase to an orthorhombic phase under AC-poling, confirmed by synchrotron radiation X-ray diffraction and piezo-response force microscopy. The transition to the orthorhombic phase is likely a consequence of lower Gibbs energy. This study on orientation-dependent characteristics of AC-poling for PIN-PMN-PT single crystals will guide the development of AC-poling technology in applications. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]