High-Performance Piezoelectric Single Crystals of Complex Perovskite Solid Solutions

Relaxor-based single crystals of complex perovskite solid solutions, Pb(Mg1/3Nb2/3)O-3 -PbTiO3 [PMN-PT] and Pb(Zn1/3Nb2/3)O-3-PbTiO3 [PZN-PT], exhibit extraordinary piezoelectric performance, with extremely high piezoelectric coefficients, very large electromechanical coupling factors, and exceptionally high strain levels. These materials outperform the currently used Pb(Zr1-xTix)O-3 [PZT] ceramics, making them the materials of choice for the next generation of electromechanical transducers for a broad range of advanced applications. In this article, recent major advances in the development of piezocrystals are reviewed in terms of crystal growth, piezoelectric properties, crystal chemistry, domain structure, and device applications.