Electromechanical properties and anisotropy of single- and multi-domain 0.72Pb(Mg(1∕3)Nb(2∕3))O(3)-0.28PbTiO(3) single crystals.

Complete sets of elastic, piezoelectric, and dielectric constants of 0.72Pb(Mg(1∕3)Nb(2∕3))O(3)-0.28PbTiO(3) single crystal poled along [111](c) (single domain) as well as non-polar axes [001](c) and [011](c) (multidomain) have been measured under natural conditions. These data allowed us to evaluate accurately the extrinsic contributions to the superior piezoelectric properties. Very large extrinsic contributions to the unusual anisotropies in multidomain crystals are confirmed. We found that the instability of domain structures is the origin of the low mechanical quality factor Q for the multidomain relaxor-based ferroelectric single crystals. Our results can provide useful guidance in future design of domain engineered materials.