Direct evidence of correlations between relaxor behavior and polar nano-regions in relaxor ferroelectrics: A case study of lead-free piezoelectrics Na0.5Bi0.5TiO3-x%BaTiO3

Diffuse scattering and relaxor behavior in Na0.5Bi0.5TiO3 (NBT) and NBT-5.6 at. % BaTiO3 (NBT-5.6%BT) were investigated. X-ray diffraction revealed two types of diffuse scattering in NBT: (i) broad and (ii) asymmetric L-shaped. After modification with 5.6%BT, the broad diffuse scattering patterns became narrow, and the asymmetric L-shaped ones were replaced by symmetric ones. The symmetric diffuse scattering in NBT-5.6%BT disappeared with increasing dc electric field (E) for E >= 9.5 kV/cm where the frequency dispersion in the dielectric constant disappeared. These results demonstrate that the relaxor characteristics are directly correlated with the diffuse scattering and the presence polar nano-regions. (C) 2013 AIP Publishing LLC.