Structure and properties of Bi(Zn_0.5Ti_0.5)O_3- Pb(Zr_1-xTi_x)O₃ ferroelectric single crystals grown by a top-seeded solution growth technique

Bi(Zn_0.5Ti_0.5)O₃ (BZT)-modified Pb(Zr_1-xTi_x)O₃ (PZT) single crystals have been grown using a top-seeded solution growth technique and characterized by various methods. The crystal structure is found to be rhombohedral by means of X-ray powder diffraction. The composition and homogeneity of the as-grown single crystals are studied by laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. The domain structure of a (001)_cub platelet is investigated by polarized light microscopy (PLM), which confirms the rhombohedral symmetry. The paraelectric-to-ferroelectric phase transition temperature T_C is found to be 313°C with the absence of rhombohedral-tetragonal phase transition. The ferroelectric properties of the ternary crystals are enhanced by the BZT substitution with a remanent polarization of 28 μC/cm² and a coercive field E_C of 22.1 kV/cm.