Aging associated domain evolution in the orthorhombic phase of <001> textured (K0.5Na0.5)Nb0.97Sb0.03O3 ceramics

TL;DR

This study investigates aging-related domain evolution in <001> textured (K0.5Na0.5)Nb0.97Sb0.03O3 ceramics, revealing defect migration and domain structure changes in the orthorhombic phase using piezoresponse force microscopy.

Contribution

It provides new insights into how aging affects domain structures and defect migration in textured KNN-based ceramics, specifically in the orthorhombic phase.

Findings

Aging causes more uniform and finer domain structures.

Defect migration is a key factor in domain evolution.

Large domains with smooth boundaries are observed after poling in aged samples.

Abstract

An aging effect due to a domain evolution in (K0.5,Na0.5)Nb0.97Sb0.03O3 <001> textured ceramics was investigated by piezoresponse force microscopy. We find that such an aging effect is pronounced in the orthorhombic single phase field. A more uniform and finer domain structure was found with aging, which was believed to originate from defect-migration. After poling, large domains with smooth boundaries were found in the aged condition.