Antiferroelectric nanodomains in the vicinity of the morphotropic boundary in PZT-based coarse-grained ceramics

Results presented in this article demonstrate importance of taking into account such a phenomenon as the solid solution decomposition at the boundaries separating coexisting phases in lead-zirconate-titanate-based solid solutions with compositions belonging to the morphotropic boundary region of the "temperature-composition" phase diagram. It is shown that in the local decomposition of solid solutions in the vicinity of the boundaries separating the tetragonal and rhombohedral phases in lead-zirconate-titanate-based solid solutions lead to the changes of the chemical composition of the solid solutions and to the formation of segregates. It is also shown that the proper thermoelectric treatment of samples containing these segregates can give substantially higher values of piezoelectric parameters in the lead-zirconate-titanate-based compounds.