Dielectric and optic properties of PbZr1−xSnxO3 single crystals (0≤x≤0.2)

Temperature variations of linear birefringence Δn have been studied on flux-grown pure PbZrO3 and PbZr1−xSnxO3 (PZS-for short) single crystals (x=0.01, 0.025, 0.05, 0.075, 0.1, 0.15, 0.2) in the range of temperature between 80 and 500 K. Linear birefringence was measured by means of polarising microscope using Sénarmonte compensator. In the same samples changes of dielectric permittivity ε′ was also measured in order to confirm temperature points of the phase transitions occurring in PZS crystals. In PZS with x≥0.05, two phase transitions Tc (P-paraelectric to A2-antiferroelectic) and T1 (A1 to A2 both antiferroelectric) were detected. For the concentrations of x<0.05 PZS undergoes one phase transition (P–A1) as in pure PbZrO3. The optical studies were mainly performed in order to determine the character of the phase transitions in PZS.