Elastic energy of a straight dislocation and contribution from core tractions

E Clouet

We derive an expression of the core traction contribution to the dislocation elastic energy within linear anisotropic elasticity theory using the sextic formalism. With this contribution, the elastic energy is a state variable consistent with the work of the Peach-Koehler forces. This contribution needs also to be considered when extracting from atomic simulations core energies. The core energies thus obtained are real intrinsic dislocation properties: they do not depend on the presence and position of other defects. This is illustrated by calculating core energies of edge dislocation in bcc iron, where we show that dislocations gliding in lcub110rcub planes are more stable than those gliding in lcub112rcub planes.

Shifting of the morphotropic phase boundary and superior piezoelectric response in Nb-doped Pb(Zr, Ti)O3 epitaxial thin films

Z-X Zhu et al

A shift of the morphotropic phase boundary (MPB) and a superior piezoelectric response are observed in Nb-doped Pb(ZrxTi1−x)O3 (PNZT) thin films epitaxially grown on Nb-doped SrTiO3(1 0 0) (Nb:STO) substrates. X-ray diffraction and Raman spectra characterizations confirm that a phase transition from a tetragonal structure to a rhombohedral structure occurs when the Zr/Ti ratio varies from 20/80 to 80/20. The phenomenological theory and experimental analyses suggest that the MPB of epitaxial PNZT thin films is shifted to the higher Zr/Ti ratio (around 70/30) from the conventional ratio (52/48) due to the misfit compressive stress induced by the substrate. A maximum local effective longitudinal piezoelectric coefficient (d33) up to 307 pm V−1 is observed at a Zr/Ti ratio of 70/30 in the current compositional range, again confirming the shifting of MPB in epitaxial PNZT thin films. These findings offer a new insight for the fabrication of epitaxial PZT thin films at MPB with a superior piezoelectric response.