Abstract

High resolution synchrotron X-ray diffraction was used to investigate extrinsic (domain switching) and intrinsic (lattice deformation) contributions to the total strain induced by external electric field in soft lead zirconate titanate (PZT) ceramics. Evidence was presented for both 180 degrees and non-180 degrees domain switching. The direction dependence of the lattice deformation was examined. It was found that in rhombohedral PZT, the highest lattice strain occurs in [100] direction, and for tetragonal PZT, the highest lattice strain occurs in [101] direction. Finally it was found, that the lattice strain gives a higher contribution to the total strain for rhombohedral PZT than for tetragonal PZT.