Low-temperature phases in PbZr0.52Ti0.48O3: A neutron powder diffraction study

A neutron powder diffraction study has been carried out on PbZr0.52Ti0.48O3 in order to resolve an ongoing controversy about the nature of the low-temperature structure of this strongly piezoelectric and technologically important material. The results of a detailed and systematic Rietveld analysis at 20 K are consistent with the coexistence of two monoclinic phases having space groups Cm and Ic, respectively, in the approximate ratio 4:1, and thus support the findings of a recent electron diffraction study. The results are compared to those of recent conflicting neutron powder diffraction studies of materials of the same nominal composition.