Ferroelastic domain hierarchy in the intermediate state of PbZr0.98Ti0.02O3 single crystal

Abstract

PbZrO3-based antiferroelectric crystals are of great interest in both fundamental and applied research, not only because of the antiferroelectric feature at room temperature but also because of the existence of a peculiar intermediate state at elevated temperatures. Here, we report a detailed description of domain structure change at the temperature-induced antiferroelectric-to-ferroelectric phase transition. A complex process of different types of domains is revealed to appear at different stages of the phase transition. A hierarchical ferroelastic domain structure forms in the stabilized intermediate state, where the dense domain walls show potential impact on the physical properties of the crystal.

Tuning of Polar Domain Boundaries in Nonpolar Perovskite

“…In the meantime, the Ti doping can slightly decrease the stability of the Pbam structure compared to PZ, which decreases the sizes of AFE domains and increases the DB density. [ 22 ] The crystal structure has antiparallel (↑↑↓↓) polarizations along 〈110〉 [ 13,23 ] (pseudocubic axes are used throughout this paper). Periodic polarizations form long‐range ordered domains.…”

“…Periodic polarizations form long‐range ordered domains. Broken periodicity occurs at the ferroelastic DBs [ 23 ] and APBs, [ 12 ] with the latter separating two adjacent domains with a phase shift (Δ φ =π /2, π, or 3π/2) in the order parameter. Several second harmonic (SH)‐active lines ( Figure a) are observed by second harmonic generation microscopy (SHGM) in the sample bulk.…”

“…Periodic polarizations form long-range ordered domains. Broken periodicity occurs at the ferroelastic DBs [23] Domain boundaries in ferroic materials are found to have various physical properties not observed in the surrounding domains. Such differences can be enhanced and bring promising functionalities when centrosymmetric nonpolar materials encounter polar domain boundaries.…”

Subtly tuning intermolecular hydrogen bonds in hybrid crystals to achieve ultrahigh-temperature molecular ferroelastic

“…[1][2][3][4][5][6] Ferroelastic phase transition from a paraelastic phase to a ferroelastic phase by reducing symmetry is accompanied by the appearance of a ferroelastic domain, 7,8 and theoretically, the generation of ferroelasticity must meet the strict crystallographic requirements of the 94 species of ferroelastic phase transitions reported by Aizu. 9 Traditional inorganic ferroelastics, such as BiVO 4 , 10 Gd 2 (MoO 4 ) 3 , 11 SrBi 2 Ta 2 O 9 , 12 and PbZr 1−x Ti x O 3 , 13 usually run into technical problems in the synthetic process, requiring complicated, high-cost, or highly energy-consuming fabrication. In the past decades, the exploration of ferroelastics has been extended to organic-inorganic hybrid materials, which have the advantages of low weight, low acoustical impedance, nontoxicity, and, especially, potential large responses to mechanical stress beneting from the orientational or conformation changes of the exible organic cations.…”

High- and low-temperature dual ferroelasticity in a new hybrid crystal: (Me3NCH2CH2OH)4[Ni(NCS)6]

“…Ferroelastic phase features with two or more switchable orientation states of spontaneous strain [2,3], ensuring essential roles in shape memory, actuators, and mechanical switches [4]. Traditional inorganic ferroelastics such as Gd 2 (MoO 4 ) 3 [5], Pb 3 (PO 4 ) 2 [6], BiVO 4 [7,8] and PbZr 1−x Ti x O 3 [9] generally are faced with a technical problem in synthetic process that requires high temperature, high pressure, or high energy consumption. Recent years have witnessed the emergence of nontoxic, flexible, easily prepared, and highly designable molecule-based crystals as important alternatives for multi-functional materials [10][11][12][13][14][15][16].…”