Heterophase states and domain effects in solid solutions of (1 - x)BiFeO3 - xPbTiO3

Examples of heterophase states in multiferroic solid solutions of (1 - x) BiFeO3 - xPbTiO(3) with the perovskite-type structure are studied taking into account the features of elastic matching of polydomain (twinned) ferroelectric phases near the morphotropic phase boundary and in a wide temperature range. Conditions for the complete stress relief are examined in the heterophase states P4mm-P4mm and P4mm-Cc to interpret variations of the phase content [S. Bhattacharjee et al., Phys. Rev. B 84, 104116 (2011)] [S. Bhattacharjee and D. Pandey, J. Appl. Phys. 110, 084105 (2011)] in (1 - x)BiFeO3 - xPbTiO(3). The key role of some 90 degrees domain types of the low-temperature ferroelectric P4mm phase in the stress relief at the phase coexistence is emphasized. An agreement between the evaluated and experimental data on the volume fraction of the low-temperature P4mm phase in heterophase samples is observed. (C) 2012 American Institute of Physics. [http://dx.doi.org/10.1063/1.4712631]