The effect of growth conditions on the dielectric properties of Pb(Zn_1/3Nb_2/3)O₃ single crystals

The effect of growth conditions on the dielectric properties and ferroelectric transition of perovskite Pb(Zn_1/3Xb_2/3)O₃ single crystals was examined. Crystals were grown by the flux technique using PbO as a self flux. Increased cooling rate and soaking temperature resulted in a decreased Zn/Nb ratio, and corresponding increased temperature of the maximum dielectric constant (T_max), and decreased room temperature values of the dielectric constant and loss. Different crystal colors and quality were also associated with the various growing conditions. Although dielectric properties, domain stability after poling, and associated piezoelectric properties are a function of T_max, it was shown that crystal quality was critical for the observed variation in these properties.