The effect of growth conditions on the dielectric properties of Pb(Zn1/3Nb2/3)O-3 single crystals

The effect of growth conditions on the dielectric properties and ferroelectric transition of perovskite Pb(Zn1/3Nb2/3)O-3 single crystals was examined, Crystals were grown bg the flux technique using PbO as a self nux. Increased cooling rate and soaking temperature resulted in a decreased Zn/Nb ratio, and corresponding increased temperature of the maximum dielectric constant (T-max), and decreased room temperature values of the dielectric constant and loss. Different crystal colors and quality were also associated with the various growing conditions. Although dielectric properties: domain stability after poling, and associated piezoelectric properties are a function of T-max, it was shown that crystal quality was critical for the observed variation in these properties.