Effects of ordering degree on the dielectric and ferroelectric behaviors of relaxor ferroelectric Pb (Sc1/2 Nb1/2) O3 ceramics

Relaxor ferroelectric Pb (Sc0.5 Nb0.5) O3 ceramics were synthesized by a modified solid oxide reaction method. The x-ray diffraction and Raman scattering analysis affirmed that annealing dominated the ordering degree of PSN samples. The measurements on dielectric response and ferroelectric behavior indicate the prominent impact of the ordering degree. The dielectric response of a relaxor ferroelectric is determined by the growing and freezing behaviors of the polar regions, which is correlated with the ordering degree. In addition, the behavior of the ferroelectric phase transition was controlled by the lattice distortion in ordered domain due to the displacement of Pb and ferroelectrically active Nb cations in the PSN lattice. © 2008 American Institute of Physics.