Morphotropic phase boundary, field-induced transitions and dielectric properties of Pb_xSr_1-xTiO₃

Abstract

A low-temperature rhombohedral-tetragonal morphotropic phase boundary (MPB) is discovered using a phenomenological approach in Pb_xSr_1-xTiO₃. Monoclinic structures are readily induced under electric field around the MPB which can be up-shifted to near room temperature by applying a negative pressure. Field-induced phase transition, polarization change, and dielectric response are computed. Under stress-free conditions monoclinic-orthorhombic transition can be induced in Pb_0.5Sr_0.5TiO₃ by applying an electric field, giving rise to stronger field dependence of room-temperature dielectric constants as compared to Pb_0.2Sr_0.8TiO₃. Under negative pressure, however, in Pb_0.2Sr_0.8TiO₃ cubic-tetragonal transition can be induced, around which dielectric anomaly is sensitive to electric field, enabling significant enhancement of dielectric tunability.

KEYWORDS:

• Phase transition
• field-induced monoclinic structure
• negative pressure
• dielectric property

Correction Statement

This article has been republished with minor changes. These changes do not impact the academic content of the article.

Additional information

Funding

The financial support from the Program for New Century Excellent Talents in University (Grant No. NCET-08-0648) is gratefully acknowledged.