LAUSR

Abstract (1-x)Pb(Mg1/3Nb2/3)O3-xPbTiO3 (PMN-PT) single crystals, especially with compositions near its morphotropic phase boundary (MPB), have been employed for a broad range of applications such as ultrasound transducers, sensors, and actuators. To further enhance the properties of PMN-PT, electrode patterning, as a method of domain engineering, was proved to be an effective approach. In our previous report, a 200 nm grating pattern electrode (Ti/Au-MnOx) (nano-electrode) was prepared on one surface of PMN-PT crystal, exhibiting 30% d33 enhancement. In this work, the multi-layered domain morphology and the domain engineering from nano-electrode were characterized using piezoresponse force microscopy (PFM). A hypothetical domain engineering model for nano-electrodes is established to explain the experimental results as well as the property enhancement from the nano-electrode. The electrode patterning proves that the nano-scale modification can tune the macro-scale piezoelectric properties of the bulk material.