Acta Crystallographica Section C

Crystal Structure Communications

Volume 62, Part 6 (June 2006)

inorganic compounds

Acta Cryst. (2006). C62, i46-i48 [ doi:10.1107/S0108270106011991 ]

PbZn_1/3Nb_2/3O₃ at 4.2 and 295 K

E. H. Kisi, J. S. Forrester and K. S. Knight

Abstract: The structure of the relaxor ferroelectric lead zinc niobium trioxide, Pb(Zn_1/3Nb_2/3)O₃, known as PZN, was determined at 4.2 and 295 K from very high resolution neutron powder diffraction data. The material is known for its extraordinary piezoelectric properties which are closely linked to the structure. Pseudo-cubic lattice parameters have led to considerable controversy over the symmetry of the structure, which was found to be rhombohedral in the space group R3m at both temperatures. Atomic coordinates have been determined for the first time. They show that, whereas the deviation of the rhombohedral angle from 90° approaches zero at 295 K, the atomic coordinates do not approach typical cubic positions and hence the polarization remains high.

Formula: PbZn_1/3Nb_2/3O₃


	Rietveld powder data file (CIF format) (366.6 kbytes) [ doi:10.1107/S0108270106011991/fa1185PZN4Ksup2.rtv ] Contains datablock PZN_4K

	Rietveld powder data file (CIF format) (366.4 kbytes) [ doi:10.1107/S0108270106011991/fa1185PZN295Ksup3.rtv ] Contains datablock PZN_295K

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