Structural evolution in erbium doped lead magnesium niobium titanate for ultrasonic transducer patches

The perovskite system Pb(Mg0.33Nb0.67)xTi(1-x)O3 (PMNPT) represents the archetypal piezoelectric system. It is proposed to examine the thermal evolution of the structure in erbium-doped lead magnesium niobium titanate, ErPMNPT, which has potential applications in ultrasonic transducer patches. Er doping is suggested to flatten the thermodynamic energy profile to allow the co-existence of different polar phases resulting in improved piezoelectric performance and ultra-high strain due to its heterogeneous structure. This material shows unusual thermal expansion features below and immediately above its Curie point of around 138 deg. C. The aim of the work is to accurately characterise structural details of ErPMN30 as a function of temperature over the range −200 deg. C to 400 deg. C.