Ferroelectric Properties of Pb(Zr1/2Ti1/2)O3-Pb(Zn1/3Nb2/3)O3 Ceramics Under Compressive Stress Applied Perpendicular to Electric Field

Effects of perpendicular compressive stress on the ferroelectric properties of ceramics in PZT-PZN system were investigated. The (1-x)Pb(Zr1/2Ti1/2)O-3-xPb(Zn1/3Nb2/3)O-3 or (1-x)PZT- (x)PZN (x = 0.1-0.5) ceramics were prepared by a conventional mixed-oxide method. The ferroelectric properties were measured under compressive stress applied perpendicular to an electric field direction at stress levels up to 90 MPa using a compressometer in conjunction with a modified Sawyer-Tower circuit. It was found that with increasing compressive stress the area of the ferroelectric hysteresis (P-E) loops, the maximum polarization (P-max), and the remanent polarization (P-r) decreased, while the coercive field (E-c) remained relatively constant. These results were interpreted through the domain switching, clamping of domain walls and de-poling mechanisms.