Microstructure and piezoelectric properties of AC poled relaxor-PbTiO₃ perovskite single crystals

Abstract

High-performance perovskite relaxor-PbTiO₃ (relaxor-PT) piezoelectric single crystals (SCs) fabricated by the melt-growth Bridgeman method have been widely used in medical ultrasound imaging devices as probes and in high-performance underwater equipment since around 2,000. To improve the piezoelectric properties of these SCs, the use of alternating-current poling (ACP) instead of conventional DC poling has been widely adopted since 2018. Macro- and microstructural observations by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) are the best way to easily confirm the relationship between electrical properties and macro- and microstructure. After optimal ACP, fine 109° domain layers of 0.5 to several µm parallel to the electrodes have been obtained, contributing to 10%-100% improvement in dielectric constant and piezoelectric constant. Relaxor-PT SCs fabricated by the solid state crystal growth method with self-poring, excellent composition uniformity and machinability, high piezoelectric performance, and the low acoustic impedance due to the inclusion of spherical micropores in the SCs are also discussed.

Keywords

Relaxor perovskite / lead magnesium niobate / lead titanate / single crystals / piezoelectric properties / AC poling / macro- and micro structure

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