Electric-field induced phase transition in a near-surface layer of a PbMg0.33Nb0.67O3-28% PbTiO3 (001) single-crystalline plate

Abstract

Abstract An (001) single-crystal plate of a solid solution of PbMg1/3Nb2/3O3-28 mol.% PbTiO3 was investigated by Wide-Angle X-ray Scattering techniques at room temperature in situ under the influence of an external static electric field (field strength E up to 13 kV cm−1) applied along the [001] direction of the wafer. Structural changes attributed to a reversible phase transition between ferroelectric modifications of the solid solution in a near electrode region of about 1 mm depth are found. Part of the near-electrode layer (of about 5 vol.% at E = 4.5 kV cm−1 and about 15 vol.% at 13 kV cm−1) transforms from the initial rhombohedral structure to another one, most probably, the monoclinic Mb phase. Changes of the profile shape of X-ray rocking curves suggest possible technical use of the electric-field induced phase transition for adaptive X-ray optics.