Abstract

The special characteristics of polarization rotation and accompanying electric-field-induced ferroelectric-ferroelectric phase transitions in 〈001〉-poled Pb(Mg₁_/₃Nb₂_/₃)₁₋ₓTiₓO₃ (x = 27.4, 28,8, and 30.7 mol %) single crystals close to the morphotropic phase boundary region were studied by means of dielectric and thermal measurements as a function of a unipolar electric field at various temperatures. Discontinuous first-order-type phase transition behavior was evidenced by distinct and sharp changes in polarization and thermal responses with accompanying hysteresis as a function of the electric field. All compositions of crystals showed either one or two reversible discontinuities along the polarization rotation paths, which can be understood by electric-field-induced phase transition sequences to the tetragonal phase through different monoclinic phases previously observed along the polarization rotation path. Together with increasing polarization, a field-induced reversible decrease in temperature was observed with increasing electric field, indicating increased dipolar entropy during the electric-field-induced phase transitions. Constructed electric field-temperature phase diagrams based on the polarization and thermal data suggest that the complex polarization rotation path extends to a wider composition range than previously observed. The measured thermal response showed that a transition from the monoclinic to the tetragonal phase produced a greater thermal change in comparison with a transition within two monoclinic phases.