Large strain transduction utilizing phase transition in relaxor-ferroelectric Pb(In1/2Nb1/2)O3-Pb(Mg1/3Nb2/3)O3-PbTiO3 single crystals

In this work, we present experimental evidence that under relatively low level drive (<0.1 MV/m) the large strain (similar to 0.5%) associated with ferroelectric rhombohedral F-R-ferroelectric orthorhombic F-O phase transition in domain engineered relaxor-ferroelectric single crystals under compressive stress and bias electric field can be captured. We have demonstrated this in mechanically confined ternary Pb(In1/2Nb1/2)O-3-Pb(Mg1/3Nb2/3)O-3-PbTiO3 single crystals poised at the rhombohedral side of the morphotropic phase boundary. Experimental strain-field results, methods of mechanical confinement and drive, and a low frequency, compact, high source level sound projector design are presented. Transducers that operate on a large strain principle as a design rule will benefit from this development. [doi: 10.1063/1.3585088]