Extreme Room Temperature Compression and Bending in Ferroelectric Oxide Pillars

Plastic deformation in ceramic materials is normally only observed in nanometre-sized samples. However, we have observed unprecedented levels of plasticity (>50% plastic strain) and excellent elasticity (6% elastic strain) in perovskite oxide Pb(In1/2Nb1/2)O3-Pb(Mg1/3Nb2/3)O3-PbTiO3 (PIN-PMN-PT), under compression along pc pillars up to 2.1 μm in diameter. The extent of this deformation is much higher than has previously been reported for ceramic materials, and the sample size at which plasticity is observed is almost an order of magnitude larger. Bending tests also revealed over 8% flexural strain. Plastic deformation occurred by slip along {110} . Calculations indicate that the resulting strain gradients will give rise to extreme flexoelectric polarization. First principles models predict that a high concentration of oxygen vacancies (Vo) weaken the covalent/ionic bonds, giving rise to the unexpected plasticity. Mechanical testing on Vo-rich Mn-doped PIN-PMN-PT confirmed this prediction. These findings will facilitate the design of plastic ceramic materials and the development of flexoelectric-based nano-electromechanical systems.