POLAR NANOREGIONS ENGINEERED RELAXOR-PbTiO3 FERROELECTRIC CRYSTALS
A relaxor-PT based piezoelectric crystal is disclosed, comprising the general formula of (Pb1-1.5xMx){[(MI,MII)1-z(MI',MII')z]1-yTiy}O3, wherein: M is a rare earth cation; MI is selected from the group consisting of Mg2+, Zn2+, Yb3+, Sc3+, and In3+; MII is Nb5+; MI' is selected from the group consisting of Mg2+, Zn2+, Yb3+, Sc3+, In3+, and Zr4; MII' is Nb5+ or Zr4+; 0 < x ≤ 0.05; 0.02 < y < 0.7; and 0 ≤ z ≤ 1, provided that if either MI' or MII' is Zr4+, both MI' and MII' are Zr4+. A method for forming the relaxor-PT based piezoelectric crystal is disclosed, comprising pre-synthesizing precursor materials by calcining mixed oxides, mixing the precursor materials with single oxides and calcining to form a feeding material, and growing the relaxor-PT based piezoelectric crystal having the general formula of (Pb1-1.5xMx){[(MI,MII)1-z(MI',MII')z]1-yTiy}O3 from the feeding material by a Bridgman method.