Abstract
Polarized Raman spectroscopy has been employed to investigate the evolution of the microstructure of 0.67PbMg(1/3)Nb(2/3)O(3)-0.33PbTiO(3) (PMN-33% PT) single crystal in the temperature range from -195 to 300 degrees C. The M-A-M-C-cubic transition sequence was observed in the microareas with M-A-type (space group Cm) and M-C-type (space group Pm) monoclinic structures. Interestingly, the M-A-M-C phase transition temperature exhibited remarkable microareal dependence due to the spatial inhomogeneity of polar nanoregions (PNRs). The M-C-cubic phase transition took place at 155 degrees C in both microareas, which consisted well with previous reports. These results reveal that the phase transition in PMN-33% PT single crystal is closely related with the thermal dynamics of PNRs, which will be useful for understanding the microheterogeneity in this compound. (C) 2011 American Institute of Physics. [doi:10.1063/1.3574666]