The origin of ultrahigh piezoelectricity in relaxor-ferroelectric solid solution crystals

Abstract The discovery of ultrahigh piezoelectricity in relaxor-ferroelectric solid solution single crystals is a breakthrough in ferroelectric materials. A key signature of relaxor-ferroelectric solid solutions is the existence of polar nanoregions, a nanoscale inhomogeneity, that coexist with normal ferroelectric domains. Despite two decades of extensive studies, the contribution of polar nanoregions to the underlying piezoelectric properties of relaxor ferroelectrics has yet to be established. Here we quantitatively characterize the contribution of polar nanoregions to the dielectric/piezoelectric responses of relaxor-ferroelectric crystals using a combination of cryogenic experiments and phase-field…

• NS
  National Science Foundation

  Awards: 1410714, DMR-1410714, DE-AC02-06CH11357
• UD
  U.S. Department of Energy

  Awards: AC02-06CH11357, Contract No. DE-AC02-06CH11357, DE-FG02-07ER46417, DE-AC02, 06CH11357, DE-FG02-, No. DE-AC02-06CH11357, DE-AC02-06CH11357, FG02-07ER46417, DE-FG02, DE-AC02-
• NN
  National Natural Science Foundation of China

  Awards: 51372196, 51572214, DE-AC02-06CH11357, B14040
• NS
  Natural Science Foundation of Shaanxi Province

  Awards: B14040, 2015JQ5135
• HE
  Higher Education Discipline Innovation Project

  Award: B14040
• OO
  Office of Science

  Awards: DE-AC02-06CH11357, Contract No. DE-AC02-06CH11357, DE-AC02, No. DE-AC02-06CH11357, 06CH11357, AC02-06CH11357
• OO
  Office of Naval Research

  Awards: DE-AC02-06CH11357, N00014-12-1-1045, N00014-12-1, N00014
• DO
  Division of Materials Research

  Awards: DE-AC02-06CH11357, 1410714, DMR-1410714
• BE
  Basic Energy Sciences

  Awards: DE-AC02, DE-FG02, Contract No. DE-AC02-06CH11357, FG02-07ER46417, AC02-06CH11357, DE-FG02-07ER46417, 06CH11357
• OO
  Office of Naval Research Global

  Awards: N62909-16-1-2126, N00014-12-1-1045
• DO
  Division of Materials Sciences and Engineering

  Awards: DE-AC02, DE-AC02-06CH11357, DE-FG02-07ER46417