Position of defects with respect to domain walls in Fe[sup 3+]-doped Pb[Zr[sub 0.52]Ti[sub 0.48]]O[sub 3] piezoelectric ceramics

The position of (Fe-Zr',(Ti)-V-O(center dot center dot))(center dot) defect complexes in Pb[Zr0.52Ti0.48]O-3 (PZT) piezoelectric ceramics was investigated by means of electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy. The method of analysis pursued to obtain information on the (Fe-Zr',(Ti)-V-O(center dot center dot))(center dot) position is to compare the EPR spectra of Fe3+-doped PZT specimen at different states, i.e., a powder that is representative for a system with considerably reduced amount of non-180 degrees domain walls and a sintered ceramic of identical composition but with markedly developed domain structure. By considering the local site symmetry for the Fe3+-functional center, indirect evidence is obtained that the (Fe-Zr',(Ti)-V-O(center dot center dot))(center dot) defect complexes are located within domains and not at domain walls. (C) 2011 American Institute of Physics. [doi:10.1063/1.3555465]