Recently, Lai and Schuh [Phys. Rev. Lett. 26, 015701 (2021)] used a direct electric field to induce phase transformation in dielectric zirconia. This martensitic phase transformation from the monoclinic to the tetragonal phase was described by a thermodynamic model that depends on the susceptibility difference between the phases. Here we explore the anisotropic nature of the susceptibility difference for optimal single-crystal orientations. For a monoclinic single crystal subjected to a uniaxial applied electric field, we find that the orientation dependence of the susceptibility difference is dominated by the tetragonal phase in the 24 possible variant combinations. This tetragonal dominance results from the greater anisotropy of electric susceptibility in the tetragonal phase. In contrast, the monoclinic phase dominates the orientation dependence of the transformation strain. Conveniently, maximum transformation strain can be achieved in orientations that also have relatively low required electric field to induce the phase transformation; these always occur by the “B” correspondence orientation relationship. In addition, the temperature dependence of the thermodynamic model is such that these optimal single-crystal orientations allow for phase transformations at lower temperatures. A simple comparison to a homogenized, randomly oriented polycrystal shows that the best polycrystals perform about as well as the least optimal single-crystal orientations. Thus, optimal orientation of a single crystal can provide significantly improved conditions for electrically induced phase transformations in zirconia.

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• Crystal orientation
• Dielectric properties
• Electric polarization
• Phase transitions
• Ceramics
• Dielectrics
• Single crystal materials
• Transducers
• Symmetries