Microscopic Investigation of Nanoscale Polar Regions of Pb(Mg_⅓Nb_2/3)O₃-PbTiO₃ Relaxor Ferroelectric Thin Films

Abstract

Thin films of Pb(Mg_⅓Nb_2/3)O₃ - PbTiO₃ were grown using highly dense ceramic target without excess PbO in the target. The lower electrode play the crucial role to control the microstructure of the thin films. The sizes of the grains depend upon the nucleation density and the rate of growth onto the lower electrode used. A microscopic strain effect, is observed in thin film heterostructures (at the interface), and which is gradually released after deposition of few nanolayers. Microstrain in the films along (001) direction, can be directly computed from the shift of peak position under applied field. An increase in electric field with increasing stress linearly and don't shows any phase transition up to 24 kV/cm electric field but shows ferroelectric behavior.

Keywords:

• PMN-PT
• pulsed laser deposition
• ferroelectric thin films
• relaxors
• microstructure