Piezoelectric softening in ferroelectrics: ferroelectric versus antiferroelectric PbZr$_{1-x}$Ti$_{x}$O$_{3}$

TL;DR

This paper investigates the origin of elastic softening in ferroelectric phases of PbZr$_{1-x}$Ti$_{x}$O$_{3}$, showing it stems from piezoelectric effects, and compares experimental results across different phases and measurement techniques.

Contribution

It combines Landau theory with piezoelectric relations to clarify the piezoelectric softening mechanism and provides experimental validation in Zr-rich PZT.

Findings

Piezoelectric softening is due to electrostrictive effects in FE phase.

Piezoelectric softening can be canceled by depolarization fields.

Experimental data supports the theoretical model across different phases.

Abstract

The traditional derivation of the elastic anomalies associated with ferroelectric (FE) phase transitions in the framework of the Landau theory is combined with the piezoelectric constitutive relations instead of being explicitly carried out with a definite expression of the FE part of the free energy. In this manner it is shown that the softening within the FE phase is of electrostrictive and hence piezoelectric origin. Such a piezoelectric softening may be canceled by the better known piezoelectric stiffening, when the piezoelectric charges formed during the vibration are accompanied by the depolarization field, as for example in Brillouin scattering experiments. As experimental validation, we present new measurements on Zr-rich PZT, where the FE phase transforms into antiferroelectric on cooling or doping with La, and a comparison of existing measurements made on FE PZT with low frequency and Brillouin scattering experiments.