Electric field dependence of piezoelectric properties of lanthanum-modified lead-zirconate-titanate solid solutions at the phase transition via intermediate state

We present an experimental investigation of the influence of external electric field on the stability of phases in antiferroelectric substances with a small difference in the free energies of the ferroelectric and antiferroelectric states. The composition-electric-field phase diagrams with intermediate states of coexisting domains of the ferroelectric and antiferroelectric phases are obtained for lanthanum-modified lead-zirconate-titanate solid solutions. Detailed analysis of the dependences of piezoelectric material parameters on external electric field at the phase transition via an intermediate state has been performed. It is demonstrated that within the interval of existence of the intermediate state the piezoelectric material parameters can be effectively controlled by an applied electric field. (c) 2007 American Institute of Physics.