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Ferroelectric Domain Studies of KNN Single Crystals by Piezo-force and Transmission Electron Microscopy

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  28 September 2012

Muhammad Asif Rafiq ,
Maria Elisabete Costa ,
Paula Maria Vilarinho  and
Ian M Reaney
Muhammad Asif Rafiq
Affiliation:
Dep. of Materials and Ceramic Engineering, Centre for Research in Ceramics and Composite Materials, CICECO, University of Aveiro, Campus de Santiago, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal
Maria Elisabete Costa
Affiliation:
Dep. of Materials and Ceramic Engineering, Centre for Research in Ceramics and Composite Materials, CICECO, University of Aveiro, Campus de Santiago, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal
Paula Maria Vilarinho
Affiliation:
Dep. of Materials and Ceramic Engineering, Centre for Research in Ceramics and Composite Materials, CICECO, University of Aveiro, Campus de Santiago, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal
Ian M Reaney
Affiliation:
Department of Materials Science and EngineeringSir Robert Hadfield Building Mappin Street, Sheffield, S1 3JD, United Kingdom

Abstract

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Piezoelectric materials find important applications in micro- and nano-electromechanical systems (MEMS/NEMS). Pb(Zrx,Ti1-x)O3 (PZT) is currently the most widely used composition for such applications but due to environmental concerns over the toxicity of lead, lead free alternative materials are required. K0.5Na0.5NbO3 (KNN) is considered as a potential lead free piezoelectric but the current generation of monolithic ceramics has inferior electromechanical properties as compared to PZT. Consequently, there is great interest in improving the piezoelectric properties of KNN ceramics and various methods such as doping, hot-pressing and texturing are currently being studied. KNN single crystals like lead based single crystals have shown better electromechanical properties as compared to their ceramic counterparts. In addition, the behavior of a ferroelectric is largely dependent on its local domain response to an applied electrical or mechanical loading. Therefore, to understand better the material’s macroscopic properties, it is essential to access local ferroelectric domains behavior which collectively determines the electromechanical performance.

Type
Materials Sciences
Information
Microscopy and Microanalysis , Volume 18 , Supplement S5: Portuguese Supplement , August 2012 , pp. 113 - 114
Copyright
Copyright © Microscopy Society of America 2012