Dielectric properties of relaxor-ferroelectric ceramic and single crystal Pb(In$_{1/2}$Nb$_{1/2}$)O$_{3}$-Pb(Mg$_{1/3}$Nb$_{2/3}$)O$_{3}$-PbTiO$_{3}$ at cryogenic temperatures

TL;DR

This study examines the dielectric properties of a complex relaxor-ferroelectric ceramic and single crystals at cryogenic temperatures, revealing how poling and microstructure influence low-temperature dielectric behavior.

Contribution

It provides new insights into how poling and microstructure affect the low-temperature dielectric response of relaxor-ferroelectric materials.

Findings

Poled crystals show different dielectric behavior compared to unpoled ones.

The dielectric spectrum of the ceramic remains largely unchanged upon poling.

A significant dielectric relaxation occurs in poled [001] crystals around 100 K, less so in [111] crystals, and not in the ceramic.

Abstract

We investigate the low temperature behaviour of Pb(In$_{1/2}$Nb$_{1/2}$)O$_{3}$-Pb(Mg$_{1/3}$Nb$_{2/3}$)O$_{3}$-PbTiO$_{3}$ using dielectric permittivity measurements. We compare single crystal plates measured in the [001] and [111] directions with a polycrystalline ceramic of the same composition. Poled crystals behave very differently to unpoled crystals, whereas the dielectric spectrum of the ceramic changes very little on poling. A large, frequency dependent dielectric relaxation seen in the poled [001] crystal around 100 K is much less prominent in the [111] crystal, and doesn't occur in the ceramic. Preparation conditions and the microstructure of the material play a role in the low temperature dynamics of relaxor-ferroelectric crystals.