Electric properties and domain structures in Ba(Ti,Sn)O/sub 3/ ceramics

Abstract

The Ba(Ti,Sn)O/sub 3/ ceramics are known as relaxor materials and they show very small hysteresis of field induced strains and field induced polarizations. An optical study was attempted to explain these dielectric properties. Domain structures and motions in Ba(Ti/sub 1-x/Sn/sub x/)O/sub 3/ (x=0, 0.05, 0.1, 0.13) ceramics were observed under an electric field at various temperatures using a high resolution CCD microscope system. Electrical properties such as field induced strains, dielectric properties and field induced polarization characteristics were also measured. The Ba(Ti/sub 1-x/ Sn/sub x/)O/sub 3/ ceramics showed a significant difference in domain structures and motions with changing composition. The domain structure became tiny and complex with increasing x. Changes of domain structures due to the phase transitions were also observed with varying temperature. The domain reorientation was easily induced with rising and falling electric field. The results of domain observations can explain the electrical properties well.