Deconvolved intrinsic and extrinsic contributions to electrostrain in high performance, Nb-doped Pb(Zr Ti1-)O3 piezoceramics (0.50 ≤ x ≤ 0.56)

Abstract Lead zirconate titanate (PZT) is the base compound for the highest performing piezoelectric compositions. When doped with Nb, PZT has superior electrostrain and piezoelectric properties. However, the origin of that electrostrain involves both intrinsic and extrinsic contributions which have been challenging to deconvolute. In the present work, we utilize high-energy, synchrotron X-ray diffraction (XRD) in combination with an area detector to measure the response of 1% Nb-doped PbZrxTi1-xO3 (PZT, 0.50 ≤ x ≤ 0.56) piezoceramics to electric fields. Using analysis involving micromechanics-based calculations and pair distribution functions (PDFs), it is found that both the intrinsic and extrinsic contributions are important for realization of high electrostrain. In the compositions nearest the morphotropic phase boundary (MPB), the relative contributions of the intrinsic response increase. The interdependence of crystal symmetry (tetragonal and rhombohedral), spontaneous strain, and the extent of non-180° domain switching are also elucidated. An orientation dependence in the field-induced lattice strain is observed and attributed to extrinsic effects, i.e., the intergranular interaction between domain switching and lattice strain. Finally, the PDFs suggest that a continuous rotation of the polarization vector occurs in the tetragonal phase samples due to piezoelectric distortion, being most obvious in the compositions near the MPB, but is not observed in the rhombohedral phase samples.