Crystal Growth and Observation of the Ferroelectric Phase of PbZrO₃

Abstract

High‐purity single crystals of PbZrO3 suitable for electrical measurements were grown from solutions in the PbO‐ZrO2‐PbF2‐B2O3 system. Dielectric, hysteresis‐loop, and optical measurements confirmed the existence of an intermediate ferroelectric (FE) form, previously observed only in ceramics, just below the transition temperature (Tc#232°C). The temperature stability range of the FE phase, which cooling curve measurements show to vary from 12° to 26°C, appears to be related to crystal stoichiometry. The maximum value of spontaneous polarization is P8(max)#24 μC/cm2, assuming that the FE phase possesses rhombohedral symmetry. Copyright © 1972, Wiley Blackwell. All rights reserved