Abstract
The effect of the electrode type on the dielectric and piezoelectric properties of $Pb(Mg_{1/3}Nb_{2/3})O_3-PbZrO_3-PbTiO_3$ (PMN-PZT) single crystals was investigated in an effort to improve their properties for various piezoelectric applications. First, three different types of PMN-PZT single crystals [PMN-PZT-A (piezoelectrically soft type; dielectric constant ~ 10,000), PMN-PZT-B (piezoelectrically soft type; phase-transition temperature between the rhombohedral and tetragonal phases ($T_{RT}$) ~ $145^{\circ}C$), PMN-PZT-C (piezoelectrically hard type; high mechanical quality factor ($Q_m$) ~ 1,000)] were fabricated using the solid-state single crystal growth (SSCG) method. Then, four different types of electrodes [sputtered Au, sputtered Cr/Au, sputtered Ti/Au, and fired Ag] were formed on the single crystals, and their dielectric and piezoelectric properties were measured. The single crystals with a sputtered Ti/Au electrode showed the highest dielectric and piezoelectric constants but the lowest coercive electric field ($E_C$). The single crystals with a fired Ag electrode showed the lowest dielectric and piezoelectric constants but the highest coercive electric field ($E_C$). This dependence on the type of electrode was most significant in the piezoelectrically hard PMN-PZT-C single crystals. However, the effects of the electrode type on the phase transition temperatures ($T_C$, $T_{RT}$) and dielectric loss were negligible. These results clearly demonstrate that it is important to select an appropriate electrode so as to maximize the dielectric and piezoelectric properties of single crystals in each type of piezoelectric application.
