Piezoresponse Force Microscopy Imaging of Ferroelectric Domains in Bi(Zn_1/2Ti_1/2)O₃−Pb(Mg_1/3Nb_2/3)O₃−PbTiO₃ Piezoelectric Ceramics

Bismuth zinc titanate dopied lead magnesium niobate-lead titanate Bi(Zn_1/2Ti_1/2)O₃−Pb(Mg_1/3Nb_2/3)O₃−PbTiO₃ (BZT-PMN-PT) piezoelectric ceramics are synthesized by the conventional solid state reaction method. Ferroelectric domain structures and the evolutionary behavior of BZT-PMN-PT ceramics under an external in-plane electric field are investigated by piezoresponse force microscopy (PFM). It is found that the BZT doping has a significant effect on the domain configurations and the domain kinetic behavior of the piezoelectric BZT-PMN-PT solid solution ceramics. Microdomains embedded in the macrodomains, induced by the BZT dopant in the solid solution ceramics, are clearly observed by PFM and their volume increases with increasing amounts of BZT doping. The microdomains of BZT-PMN-PT piezoelectric ceramics exhibit better domain dynamic behavior stability than macrodomains under an external in-plane electric field.