Publications Details

Pressure-induced phase transition in a La-doped lead zirconate titanate

Morosin, Bruno; Venturini, Eugene; Samara, George

Ceramic samples of Pb0.99La0.01 (Zr 0.91Ti0.09)O3 were studied by dielectric and time-of-flight neutron diffraction measurements at 300 and 250 K versus pressure. Isothermal dielectric data (300/250 K) suggest structural transitions with onsets near 0.35/0.37 GPa, respectively, for increasing pressure. On pressure release, only the 300K transition occurs (0.10 GPa; none indicated at 250 K). Diffraction data at 300 K show the sample has the R3c structure, remaining in that phase cooling to 250 K. Pressure increase (either 300 or 250 K) above 0.3 GPa yields a Pnma-like (AO) phase (two other prominent peaks in the spectra suggest a possible incommensurate cell). Temperature/pressure excursions show considerable phase hysteresis.