Large pyroelectric response in relaxor-based ferroelectric (1-x)Pb(Mg1/3Nb2/3)O3-xPbTiO3 single crystals -: art. no. 0841104

The pyroelectric properties of (1-x)Pb(Mg1/3Nb2/3)O-3-xPbTiO(3) (PMN-xPT) single crystals have been investigated over a broad composition range of 0.13 <= x <= 0.40. The best pyroelectric performances are achieved in < 111 >-oriented PMN-0.26PT single crystal. At room temperature, the figures of merit for voltage responsivity and detectivity reach up to 0.11 m(2)/C and 15.3x10(-5) Pa-1/2, respectively. These properties are superior to those of conventional pyroelectric ceramics that have been widely used in device applications. PMN-0.26PT single crystal also possesses a relative high Curie temperature (similar to 120 degrees C) and a low thermal diffusivity (similar to 4.4x10(-7) m(2)/s). Furthermore, the pyroelectric properties of PMN-xPT (x >= 0.26) single crystals are weak dependent on temperature and nearly independent of frequency in the experimental temperature range of 20-55 degrees C and frequency range of 50-10 000 Hz. The superior pyroelectric performances of the single crystal make it a promising candidate for high-performance uncooled infrared detectors and thermal imagers. (c) 2005 American Institute of Physics.