Optimising electrical poling processes for single crystal relaxor ferroelectrics

Single crystal piezoelectrics outperform their polycrystalline counterparts; in particular, their electric field strain magnitudes, coupling efficiencies and sensing dynamic ranges are the highest of known materials. This makes them ideal for use in high-end applications such as ultrasound imaging, high power ultrasonic scalpels and naval sonar systems. Here, we will use high energy x-ray scattering in transmission geometry to collect diffuse scattering volumes in-situ during AC electrical poling treatments and subsequent electric field cycling. Such data will provide critical microstructural mechanism information to understand the underlying cause of these enhancements as well as guide future composition and post-growth processing treatments.