Ferroelectric domains in coarse-grained lead zirconate titanate ceramics characterized by scanning force microscopy

Abstract

Ferroelectric domain configurations in silver-and lanthanum-doped lead zirconate titanate (PZT) ceramics were characterized by scanning force microscopy using contact as well as piezoelectric response force [i.e., piezoelectric force microscopy (PFM)] modes. Coarse crystallites of hard and soft PZT ceramics (12 m in Ag-PZT and 30 m in La-PZT average grain size, respectively) with surface oriented in the {001} planes were chosen to characterize the domain configuration. Results show the conventional right-angled domain structures, which correspond to the {110} twin-related 90°and 180°domains of homogeneous width from 50 to 150 nm. The ability of PFM to image the orientation of pure in-plane arrays of domains (containing 90°-aa-and 180°-aa-types of domain boundaries) is highlighted, and a more detailed notation for in-plane domains is proposed. In addition to such periodical domain arrays, other ordered domains were found, having a misfit of 26°with respect to the {110} domain walls and the {100} surface. This array of domain walls could not be predicted with a geometrical analysis of the intersection of domain walls at the surface according to the conventional spatial array of {110} crystallographic planes. It could be explained only with {210} planes being the domain walls. The reason for this unconventional domain configuration is explained with the clamped conditions of the investigated crystallites in the polycrystalline material.

Ferroelectric properties of ruthenium-doped lead zinc niobate-lead titanate single crystal

“…In the upper part one can additionally see weaker parallel strips, which form a 45°inclination angle to the border between the regions with out-of-plane and in-plane polarizations and most probably represent 90°͕110͖ domain walls. 24,30 All those features indicate a tetragonal structure, 19,20,24 which is in accordance with the XRD data. Topography imaging can only show the domain pattern existing before/during polishing, while the PFM method manifests the actual domain pattern and better reveals the in-plane polarization, including the 180°domain walls.…”

“…The dark and white islands in the upper part of the topography image represent spatial regions with polarization vectors pointing toward and backward the surface, respectively, which are well distinguishable due to the different etching rates of the final polishing solution. 24 The lower half of the topography image represents a pure in-plane polarization area, where different orientations lead only to the same medium etching rate. Therefore, the border in the topography image separates spatial regions with out-of-plane ͑upper part͒ and in-plane ͑bottom part͒ polarizations.…”

Sintering and Piezoelectric Properties of Co‐Fired Lead Zirconate Titanate/Ag Composites

“…Following the ceramic/metal FGM actuator technique, we selected metallic Ag as the second phase to adjust both the electrical and the mechanical properties of piezoelectric composites, considering that Ag is much cheaper than Pt and may also be co‐fired with PZT in air. In fact, the co‐firing of ceramics with Ag has attracted considerable attention in recent years 7–17 . In one case, Ag was used as a metallic electrode integrated into multilayer ceramic capacitors (MLCC) by the co‐firing process 7,8 .…”

“…have thoroughly studied the mechanical properties of PZT/Ag composites. Nevertheless, the ferroelectric and piezoelectric properties of PZT/Ag composites have not been systematically studied, although some reports have dealt with this aspect 15–17 . The objective of this study is to evaluate the ferroelectric and piezoelectric properties of PZT/Ag composites in a wide compositional range from 1 to 15 vol% Ag concentrations.…”

“…In fact, the co-firing of ceramics with Ag has attracted considerable attention in recent years. [7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15][16][17] In one case, Ag was used as a metallic electrode integrated into multilayer ceramic capacitors (MLCC) by the co-firing process. 7,8 The doping effect of Ag in dielectrics such as PZT, 9 (Pb 0.88 La 0.12 )(Zr 0.7 Ti 0.3 )O 3 (PLZT), 10 BaTiO 3 , 11,12 (Na 0.5 Bi 0.5 )-TiO 3 (NBT), 13 and Pb(Mg 1/3 Nb 2/3 )O 3 -PbTiO 3 (PMN-PT) 14 has also been reported.…”