Orientation Dependence of Elastic and Piezoelectric Properties in Rhombohedral BiFeO(3)

Through a coordinate transformation approach, crystal orientation dependences of elastic and piezoelectric properties at room temperature have been investigated in a three-dimensional space for rhombohedral bismuth ferrite (BiFeO(3)). Elastic constants (stiffnesses) c(11′), c(12′), c(13′) and piezoelectric constants d(15′), d(31′), d(33′) along arbitrary orientations were obtained based on crystalline asymmetry characteristics of 3m point group BiFeO(3). Parameters along specific orientations obtaining the largest values were presented. The max c(11′) = 213 × 10(9) N/m(2) could be achieved in planes with [Formula: see text] = 0° and 90°. The max c(12′) = c(13′) = 132.2 × 10(9) N/m(2) could be achieved along directions at θ = 13° and θ = 77° inside three mirror planes, respectively. The max d(15′) = 27.6 × 10(−)(12) C/N and the max d(31′) = 12.67 × 10(−)(12) C/N could be both obtained along directions at θ = 69° inside mirror planes. The max d(33′) = 18 × 10(−)(12) C/N could be obtained at θ = 0°, along the spontaneous polarization axis. By adopting optimal directions, the elastic and piezoelectric parameters of BiFeO(3) could be significantly enhanced which shows applications for the growth of BeFeO(3) films with preferred orientations and enhanced properties.