Short-range ordering in Pb(B ' B-1/3 ''(2/3))O-3-type relaxer ferroelectrics

Abstract

The formation of nonstoichiometric 1:1 ordered nanodomains, which promote B-site microcompositional fluctuation, is known to be one of the most-efficient ways of enhancing diffuse phase transition (DPT) characteristics. A new theory regarding the 1:1 short-range ordering has been developed to account for the observed inability to grow ordered domains beyond the nanometer scale. The dispersion entropy associated with the formation of negatively charged ultrafine domains and the mode of the counter-ion distribution at the domain/matrix interface both have a significant role in controlling the equilibrium ordered domain size.