Quantum mechanics

Piezoresponse force microscopy

Poling

Magnetic field

Voltage

Engineering

Magnetization

Materials science

Chromatography

Electric field

Ultrasonic sensor

Acoustics

Ferroelectricity

Physical chemistry

Polarization (electrochemistry)

Transducer

Physics

Dielectric

Piezoelectric coefficient

Composite material

Analytical Chemistry (journal)

Alternating current

Chemistry

Piezoelectricity

Current density

Optoelectronics

Polarization density

Electrical engineering

Applied Physics Letters

The [001]-oriented Pb(Mg1/3Nb2/3)O3-0.25PbTiO3(PMN-0.25PT) single crystal has been poled by alternating current polarization (ACP). The piezoelectric, dielectric, and electromechanical properties of PMN-0.25PT crystals were investigated with the variations of the electric field, polarization frequency, and cycles. For the piezoelectric performance of the PMN-0.25PT crystal, the optimum ACP condition was obtained under the electric field of 12–18 kV/cm in the frequency range of 20–40 Hz and after 20 cycles. It gives the crystals an increase by 40% from 1220 pC/N to 1730 pC/N in the piezoelectric coefficient compared with traditional direct current polarization. The patterns of the periodic stripe nanodomains under different polarization conditions were revealed by piezoresponse force microscopy. The enhancement of the piezoelectric performance is attributed to the high density of these domain walls. This work indicates that ACP is an effective way to modify the piezoelectric performance of PMN-0.25PT crystals and make it a promising candidate for sensors and transducers.

Piezoelectric performance enhancement of Pb(Mg1/3Nb2/3)O3-0.25PbTiO3 crystals by alternating current polarization for ultrasonic transducer