Polar nanodomains and relaxor behaviour in (1-x)Pb(Mg1/3Nb2/3)O3-xPbTiO3 crystals with x=0.3-0.5

Phase transitions and dielectric properties of the (1 - x)Pb(Mg1/3Nb2/3)O-3-xPbTiO(3) crystals with x = 0.3-0.5 are studied. The solid solutions in this composition range are shown to be relaxor ferroelectrics. The crystals with low x demonstrate a diffused maximum in the temperature dependences of the dielectric permittivity at T-m. T-m varies with frequency according to the Vogel-Fulcher law. The polarizing microscopy investigations reveal a first-order phase transition from the relaxor phase to the low-temperature ferroelectric phase at T-C, which is several degrees below T-m. The permittivity peak in the crystals with x = 0.5 is sharp, and T-m is equal to T-C and does not depend on frequency, as is typical of the transition from a ferroelectric to an ordinary paraelectric phase. Nevertheless, the relaxor, but not the paraelectric, phase is observed at T > T-m. This conclusion is confirmed by the observation of the temperature behaviour of complex dielectric permittivity at T > T-m, which is typical of relaxors and related to the existence of polar nanodomains. (c) 2005 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.