Reinvestigation of the photostrictive effect in lanthanum-modified lead zirconate titanate ferroelectrics

Photostriction of lanthanum-modified lead zirconate titanate (PLZT) was commonly attributed to the combination of anomalous photovoltaic effect and inverse piezoelectric response. Herein, distinct photostrictions are detected in both poled and unpoled PLZT ceramics under 405 and 520 nm laser illuminations. The maximum photostriction around 0.09% is obtained in unpoled PLZT under 405 nm illumination, which is nine times of previously reported value that deduced from poled PLZT. The photoelectric and photovoltaic characterizations of poled/unpoled PLZT further evidence that the detected photostriction shows no direct association with the photovoltage-induced inverse piezoresponse. The light-induced microstructure changes observed by in situ piezoelectric force microscopy are revealed by domain evolutions along the boundaries. The possible photostriction mechanism of PLZT is attributed to the strong photo-induced electron-lattice coupling, which is suggested by the light-induced changes of the Zr/Ti-O-Zr/Ti bonds reflected by the power-dependent Raman spectra. This study extends the photostriction of PLZT to visible light range and will also stimulate reappraisal of the underlying mechanism of photostrictive effect involving ferroelectrics.