Phase evolution in SrTiO3-PbZrO3 solid solution

The article is focused on the compositional evolution and interrelation of phases in (1-x)SrTiO3-xPbZrO(3) solid solution. The results of dielectric and ultrasonic wave velocity measurements in a temperature range from 4.2 to 600 K are reported. Experimental evidences of a ferroelectric phase transition at the critical concentration x(c1)=0.0028, the transformation from the ferroelectric to relaxor ferroelectric state at 0.08 <= x < 0.1 and crossover from the relaxor to the antiferroelectric state at x>0.6 are obtained. It was also shown that antiferrodistortive (improper ferroelastic) phase exists up to the concentrations 0.08 < x < 0.1 and is suppressed at higher concentrations, in the relaxor state. The antiferroelectric (the second antiferrodistortive) phase transition is suppressed also in the relaxor region at x < 0.7. The experimental phase diagram and interrelations between the phases in the system are analyzed within the phenomenological Lifshits model. (c) 2007 American Institute of Physics.