Growth, characterization and properties of relaxor ferroelectric PMN-PT single crystals

The present paper reviews the recent progress of studies on growth, characterization and properties of relaxer ferroelectric Pb(Mg1/3Nb2/3)O-3-PbTiO3 Single crystals in Shanghai Institute of Ceramics. Their chemical compositions were selected near the rhombohedral-tetragonal morphotropic phase boundary, more favorable in the rhombohedral phase. The dominant method used for growing the single crystals was the modified Bridgman technique, by which the single crystal boules with the size larger than 25mm diameter and 50 mm long were grown. Different orientation thin plates with thickness less than 1mm were cut from the boules and their domain structures, morphology and properties were characterized. Their phase transition were discussed as well.