Enhanced polarization switching in ferroelectric Bi 0.5 Na 0.5 TiO 3 single crystals by defect control

Single crystals of ferroelectric (Bi,Na)TiO 3 (BNT) were grown by the top‐seeded solution growth (TSSG) method at a high oxygen pressure of 0.9 MPa using Pt crucibles and their conductivity (leakage current) and polarization properties were investigated at 25 °C along 〈100〉 cubic . The platinum concentration ([Pt]) in BNT crystals was controlled by using different kinds of Na salts in flux. It is shown that the conductivity of BNT crystals is governed by Bi vacancies for crystals with a [Pt] less than approximately 4000 ppm and by Pt impurities for ones with a higher [Pt]. magnified image Photo and polarization hysteresis of a high‐quality (Bi,Na)TiO 3 ferroelectric single crystal. Enhanced polarization switching (a large remanent polarization and a low coercive field) was achieved by defect control during the crystal growth.