Published online by Cambridge University Press: 21 February 2011
Ferroelectric relaxor thin films Pb[(Mg1/3Nb2/3)0.9Ti0.1]O3 (90PMNIOPT) have been fabricated by the sol-gel technique. The dielectric, piezoelectric and electrostrictive characteristics have been investigated. Experimental results show that the dielectric permittivity and effective piezoelectric coefficients of the films can be tuned by varying dc bias fields which offers the useful features in designing smart micro transducer and actuator systems. Dielectric constants of the films are in the range of 5000 to 6000. The electric field induced strain is on the order of 10−3, and the maximum effective d33 coefficient of 90PMINI0PT films is as large as 265 pC/N at 31 kV/cm. The electrostrictive coefficient Q11 is on the order of 1.2 c×10−2 m4/C2 and M11 is 3.5 c×10−16 m2/V2.