The kinetics of the local compositional changes at the ferroelectric–antiferroelectric interphase boundaries in lead–lanthanum titanate–zirconate solid solutions

• Published in: Journal of physics. Condensed matter Vol. 18; no. 49; pp. 11371 - 11383
• Main Authors: Ishchuk, V M, Samoylenko, Z A, Sobolev, V L
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Bristol IOP Publishing 13.12.2006; Institute of Physics
• Subjects: Condensed matter: electronic structure, electrical, magnetic, and optical properties; Dielectrics, piezoelectrics, and ferroelectrics and their properties; Exact sciences and technology; Ferroelectricity and antiferroelectricity; Physics; Antiferroelectricity; Annealing; Curie point; Interphase; Lanthanum Zirconates; Domain walls; Lead titanates; Lead zirconates; Lanthanum Titanates; Vacancy density; Ferroelectricity; Vacancy motion; Solid solutions; Aging; Kinetics
• ISSN: 0953-8984; 1361-648X
• DOI: 10.1088/0953-8984/18/49/027

The process of local decomposition of lead-lanthanum zirconate-titanate solid solution in the vicinity of the interphase boundaries separating domains of coexisting ferroelectric and antiferroelectric phases has been investigated. The kinetics of the local decomposition of the solid solution containing 6 at.% La, 73 at.% Zr, and 27 at.% Ti in the process of ageing of samples quenched down to room temperature from the paraelectric phase is studied. The mechanisms that define the kinetics of the process of attainment of the equilibrium state of coexisting domains of ferroelectric and antiferroelectric phases are analysed. It is demonstrated that there are two main mechanisms determining the kinetics of establishing of the equilibrium inhomogeneous chemical composition of a solid solution. The slower mechanism is determined by the diffusion of the oxygen vacancies, the nonequilibrium concentration of which was created during the annealing at the temperatures above the Curie temperature. The faster process is determined by the cation diffusion caused by the local mechanical stresses in the vicinity of the interphase boundaries. The equilibrium structure establishes during a time interval of not less than 120 h.