Triple and double hysteresis loops in relaxor ferroelectric PMN-0.28PT crystals

Abstract

The evolution of the dielectric hysteresis loops shape during heating of PMN-0.28PT single crystals possessing rhombohedral symmetry at room temperature was studied in the temperature range from room temperature to 200 °C. Revealed formation of the triple and double dielectric hysteresis loops in the relaxor phase upon switching by an electric field was explained by the influence of depolarizing fields arising at the interface of non-polar inclusions, and by the ineffective screening of polar clusters forming during transition through a percolation threshold, correspondingly. Further size decrease in the polar clusters due to heating led to their transformation to polar nanoregions.

Keywords:

• Rhombohedral phase
• PMN-PT
• relaxor ferroelectric
• polar nano-regions
• screening

Acknowledgments

The equipment of the Ural Center for Shared Use “Modern nanotechnology” Ural Federal University (reg. no. 2968), which is supported by the Ministry of Science and Higher Education RF (project No. 075-15-2021-677), was used.

Additional information

Funding

The research was made possible by the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Russian Federation (project No. 075-15-2021-1387) and by the National Key R&D Program of China (grant No. 2021YFE0115000).