Lead hafnate zirconate titanate-based perovskite materials for actuation

Antiferroelectric Pb0.98La0.02 (Zr0.70Hf0.30)(1-x)TixO3 (0.065 less than or equal to x less than or equal to 0.10) compositions, located close to the boundary with a ferroelectric phase field, have been investigated as potential candidates for actuation through the mechanism of field induced antiferroelectric-ferroelectric phase transition. The materials were analysed by X-ray diffraction and by electromechanical measurements. The compositions with x less than or equal to 0.075 seemed initially located in the orthorhombic (almost tetragonal) AFE(I) antiferroelectric phase field. The), underwent an electrically-induced phase transition into another antiferroelectric AFE(II) phase. Intermediate compositions (0.0775 less than or equal to x less than or equal to 0.095) were initially located in the other antiferroelectric phase, AFEII, and could be electrically forced in the ferroelectric phase. Remanent ferroelectric behavior at zero field increased from x=0.0775 to x=0.0825, until the ferroelectric phase remained metastable for 0.0825 less than or equal to x less than or equal to 0.095, in analogy with the better studied PbNbZrSnTiO3 and PbLaZrSnTiO3 systems. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science Limited. All rights reserved.