ABSTRACT Electromechanical properties of (1-x)Pb (Mg1/3Nb2/3)O3-xPbTiO3 (PMN-PT) single crystals with x = 0.35 were investigated as a function of different external disturbances. The polarization dependence on the electromechanical properties was first studied in order to determine the best polarization path. The correlation with X-ray measured phase ratio is presented and shows that the maximum of electromechanical properties may be correlated with a minimum rhombohedral/tetragonal phase ratio.
Temperature, stress, electric field, and time (aging) stability was studied in order to determine performance-limiting factors of these materials. The rhombohedral/tetragonal phase transition is observed on temperature (80°C), inducing a decrease of the electromechanical coupling factor (from 85% to 50%); but the whole properties are recovered while returning to room temperature. Stress measurement shows a large depoling of sample for stresses above 30 MPa. The PMN-PT single crystals were found to be surprisingly stable during aging, except for mechanical and dielectric losses. The same tendency was found on alternating current (AC) electric field dependence.
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