Electric-field-induced polarization fatigue of [001]-oriented Pb(Mg1/3Nb2/3)O3-0.32PbTiO3 single crystals

► The polarization fatigue and d33 degradation for a crystal fatigued under 1.5 kV/cm are weak. ► The polarization fatigue under 1.5 kV/cm can be easily removed by thermal annealing. ► A severe fatigue behavior for Pb(Mg1/3Nb2/3)O3-PbTiO3 (PMN-PT) single crystals is observed under 7.5 kV/cm. ► Domain wall pinning is the key to the observed severe fatigue behavior.