Crystal Growth and Electrical Properties of Pb((Zn 1/3 Nb 2/3 ) 0.91 Ti 0.09 )O 3 Single Crystals Produced by Solution Bridgman Method

• Published in: Journal of the American Ceramic Society Vol. 81; no. 11; pp. 2785 - 2788
• Main Authors: Harada, Kouichi, Shimanuki, Senji, Kobayashi, Tsuyoshi, Saitoh, Shiroh, Yamashita, Yohachi
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: 01.11.1998
• ISSN: 0002-7820; 1551-2916
• DOI: 10.1111/j.1151-2916.1998.tb02697.x

Piezoelectric Pb((Zn 1/3 Nb 2/3 ) 0.91 Ti 0.09 )O 3 (PZNT 91/9) single crystals 40 mm in diameter were successfully grown from solution by the Bridgman method with a PbO flux. The crystals were grown in a platinum crucible heated to 1130°C. Growth rate was 0.35 mm/h. The obtained crystals were ~40 mm in diameter 20 mm in length and were a rust‐brown color. The Curie temperature, T C , ranged from 175° to 185°C, and the dielectric constant before poling at room temperature was 2000‐8900 within a wafer. After electrical poling, specimens had electromechanical coupling coefficients in rectangular bar mode, k 33´ , of 79%‐88%, which were larger than for PZT ceramics ( k 33´ < 70%). These PZNT 91/9 single crystals grown by the Bridgman process satisfy the requirements for array‐type transducers used in echocardiographic equipment. Results confirm that the Bridgman method is useful for mass‐producing large crystals of PZNT 91/9.