Spontaneous and induced surface piezoresponse in PbMg1/3Nb2/3O3 single crystals

abstract

The polarization state of relaxor PbMg1/3Nb2/3O3 single crystals was studied using piezoresponse force microscopy. Areas of correlated polarization with a size of similar to 50 nm were observed in the nominally ergodic relaxor state. These areas were attributed to ensembles of frozen polar nanoregions, which may exist in vicinity of the sample surface. Relatively strong piezoresponse could be induced by applying a dc electric field. After removing the field, a relaxation of the piezoelectric signal obeying power time dependence was observed. This induced piezoresponse was attributed to a contribution from dynamic polar nanoregions.

keywords

RELAXOR FERROELECTRICS; FORCE MICROSCOPY; ORDER

subject category

Crystallography

authors

Shvartsman, VV; Kholkin, AL

our authors

acknowledgements

Authors acknowledges the financial support from the Portuguese Science and Technology Foundation (FCT) through grants No SFRH/BPD/9214/2002 and PTDC/FIS/81442/2006.

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