Dual structures in PZN-xPT ferroelectric relaxors

Abstract

We performed x-ray diffraction studies on a series of (1-$x$)Pb(Zn$_{1/3}$Nb$_{2/3}$)O$_3$-$x$PbTiO$_3$ (PZN-$x$PT) single crystals with different incident photon energies, and therefore different penetration depths. Our results show that outer-layers of $\sim 10$ to 50 $\mu$m thick are present in all samples. The structure of those outer-layers is different from that of the inside of the crystals, by having much greater (rhombohedral) distortions. With increasing $x$, rhombohedral-type lattice distortions develop, both in the outer-layer and the inside.