Correspondence Address: Prof./Dr. Hiroshi Maiwa, Department of Materials and Human Environmental Sciences, Shonan Institute of Technology, 1-1-25 Tsujido-Nishikaigan, Fujisawa 251-8511, Japan. E-mail: maiwa@mate.shonan-it.ac.jp
Received: 9 Oct 2024 | Revised: 22 Dec 2024 | Accepted: 9 Jan 2025
Abstract
High-performance perovskite relaxor-PbTiO3 (relaxor-PT) piezoelectric single crystals (SCs) fabricated by the melt-growth Bridgeman method have been widely used in medical ultrasound imaging devices as probes and in high-performance underwater equipment since around 2000. To improve the piezoelectric properties of these SCs, the use of alternating-current poling (ACP) instead of conventional DC poling has been widely adopted since 2018. Macro- and microstructural observations by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) are the best way to easily confirm the relationship between electrical properties and macro- and microstructure. After optimal ACP, fine 109º domain layers of 0.5 to several m parallel to the electrodes have been obtained, contributing to 10-100% improvement in dielectric constant and piezoelectric constant. Relaxor-PT SCs fabricated by the solid state crystal growth method with self-poring, excellent composition uniformity and machinability, high piezoelectric performance, and the low acoustic impedance due to the inclusion of spherical micropores in the SCs are also discussed.
Keywords
Relaxor perovskite, lead magnesium niobate, lead titanate, single crystals, piezoelectric properties, AC poling, macro- and micro structure
Cite This Article
Maiwa H, Xiang Y, Sun Y, Lee HY, Yamashita Y. Microstructure and piezoelectric properties of AC poled relaxor-PbTiO3 perovskite single crystals. Microstructures 2025;5:[Accept]. http://dx.doi.org/10.20517/microstructures.2024.96