IMF2017

The morphotropic phase boundary (MPB) is very important in the study of piezoelectric materials both from the fundamental understanding as well as developing new materials. Here we present a combined PFM and synchrotron X-ray diffraction study on the domain structures and behaviours under electric-field on lead zirconate titanate single crystals. An increasing in both polarization rotation (intrinsic contribution) and domain switching (extrinsic contribution) are found when the monoclinic phase presents. Moreover, our in-situ high-resolution X-ray diffraction experiment make it possible to estimate the proportion of macroscopic deformation caused by domain switching. We are able to separate the multiple components of the Bragg peaks, from which, the individual shifts and the exchange of intensity between them. In this way, we show how the average macroscopic deformation accumulates through the inclusion of different domains into the probed material volume, and finally estimate the ratio between intrinsic and extrinsic contributions at different compositions in the phase diagram.