High-energy X-ray diffuse scatter aids in discovery of unexpected novel properties of ferroelectric material

Generally, relaxor ferroelectrics exhibit a strong polarization dependence on the applied electric field, which so far has been explained by the behavior of the polar nano-regions (PNRs). Recently, scientists at the U.S. Department of Energy's Brookhaven National Laboratory investigated the short-range polar order of Pb(Zn_1/3Nb_2/3)O₃ (PZN) under an electric field. X-ray diffuse scattering is very sensitive to local inhomogeneities and the results indicated an unexpected redistribution of PNRs in real space, i.e., the PNR fields preferred to line up perpendicular to the external field instead of aligning with it. The experiments were done at the beamline X22B at the National Synchrotron Light Source (NSLS, at Brookhaven National Laboratory). For more information, see the paper, "Electric-field-induced redistribution of polar nano-regions in a relaxor ferroelectric", G. Xu et al., Nature Materials, in the January 15, 2006, online edition.