Polarization properties of (Bi_0.5Na_0.5)TiO₃ single crystals grown by a flux method and traveling solvent flouting zone method

Abstract

Bi_0.5Na_0.5TiO₃ (BNT) single crystals were grown by a flux method and traveling solvent floating zone (TSFZ) method. BNT single crystals grown by flux method at Po₂ = 1 MPa exhibit a saturated remanent polarization (P_r) of 31 μC/cm² along [100]_cubic which is larger than that of 22 μC/cm² for BNT single crystals grown at Po₂ = 0.02 MPa. A lower P_r of 23μC/cm² was observed for the BNT crystals grown by TSFZ, which is probably due to a higher temperature of the melt zone during TSFZ crystal growth. It is suggested that the composition of the solvent is of great importance in order to lower the temperature of the melt zone for the TSFZ crystal growth.