Tricritical behaviour in PbZr_xTi_1-xO₃solid solutions

Abstract

Evidence is presented for the existence of a tricritical point at the ferroelectric-paraelectric transition of PbZrxTi1-xO3 close to a value of x=0.94. Details are given of measurements of dielectric constant, remanent polarisation and spontaneous strain. It is also observed that in single crystals of PbZrxTi1-xO3 there is a peak in the transition temperature versus composition diagram coinciding with the tricritical composition. This is not seen in ceramics of the same composition.