Time-resolved and orientation-dependent electric-field-induced strains in lead zirconate titanate ceramics

Electric-field-induced lattice strains in a tetragonal ferroelectric lead zirconate titanate bulk ceramic are characterized under application of subcoercive cyclic electric fields using neutron diffraction and a stroboscopic data collection technique. At a driving electric field equal to half of the coercive field, the field-induced lattice strains are found to be a function of orientation with the greatest electric-field-induced strain coefficient of 680 pm/V in crystal orientations such that the 211 pole is parallel to the electric field. A time dependence of the 111 strain was also observed. Suggestions as to the nature of these dependences are discussed. (c) 2007 American Institute of Physics.