Low-temperature observation of relaxer ferroelectric domains in lead zinc niobate

Domain reorientation in single crystals of lead zinc niobate lead titanate solid solutions was examined, because the reorientation contributes to the electrically controlled change of shape and change of response in piezoelectric transducers and actuators. An optical microscope technique was used to explore the buildup of macropolar domains from micropolar regions in relaxer compositions. Poorly defined ''ambiguous'' spindlelike domains changed to distinct lamellar domains as PbTiO3 content was increased, The domain walls in Pb(Zn1/3Nb2/3)O-3-rich samples moved with a wavelike motion, The motion ceased or ''froze-in'' below -130 degrees and -30 degrees C for held-biased and nonbiased samples, respectively, The domains were observed at various temperatures from 300 degrees to -185 degrees C and electric fields up to +10 kV/cm.