First principles prediction of a morphotropic phase boundary in the Bi(Zn$_{1/2}$Ti$_{1/2}$)O$_3$-(Bi$_{1/2}$Sr$_{1/2}$)(Zn$_{1/2}$Nb$_{1/2}$)O$_3$ alloy
ORAL
Abstract
We present a density functional theory study on alloys of the tetragonally distorted Bi(Zn$_{1/2}$Ti$_{1/2}$)O$_3$ (BZT) and the rhombohedrally oriented (Bi$_{1/2}$Sr$_{1/2})($Zn$_{1/2} $Nb$_{1/2})$O$_3$ (BSZN). We find that compositions with $\ge$ 50\% BZT are tetragonally distorted with the polarization pointing mainly along the [001] direction. Conversely, for low concentrations of BZT the polarization is rhombohedrally oriented. Based on these results we propose a phase diagram with a possible monoclinc phase between 25\% and 50\% BZT where this material may have a useful piezoelectric response.
*This work was supported by the Materials Sciences and Engineering Division, Office of Basic Energy Sciences, U.S. Department of Energy (V.R.C., D.J.S.), the Office of Naval Research (S.T., D.J.S.) and UNCF (A.S.H.).
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