Field induced metastable ferroelectric phase in Pb0.97La0.03(Zr0.90Ti0.10)0.9925O3 ceramics

Pb0.97La0.03(Zr0.9Ti0.1)0.9925O3 (PLZT 3/90/10) ceramics prepared by solid-state reaction with the compositions near the antiferroelectric/ferroelectric (FE/AFE) phase boundary were studied. From the polarization-electric field P(E) dependence and ex situ X-ray study, an irreversible electric field induced AFE-to-FE phase transition is verified at room temperature. Dielectric and in situ temperature dependent X-ray analysis evidence that the phase transition sequence in PLZT 3/90/10-based ceramics can be readily altered by poling. A first order antiferroelectric-paraelectric (AFE-to-PE) transition occurred at ∼190 °C in virgin sample and at ∼180 °C in poled sample. In addition, a FE-to-AFE transition occurs in the poled ceramic at much lower temperatures (∼120 °C) with respect to the Curie range (∼190 °C). The temperature-induced FE-to-AFE transition is diffuse and takes place in a broad temperature range of 72-135 °C. The recovery of AFE is accompanied by an enhancement in the piezoelectric properties.