The functionality enhancement of ferroelectrics by local polar clusters called polar nanoregions (PNRs) is one of the current interests in materials science. KTa1-xNbxO3 (KTN) with perovskite structure is a well-known electro-optic crystal with a large Kerr effect. The existence of PNRs in relaxor-like ferroelectric Nb-rich KTN with homovalent B-site cations is controversial. This paper reviews recent progress in understanding precursor dynamics in Nb-rich KTN crystals studied using Brillouin scattering. The intense central peak (CP) and significant softening of sound velocity are observed above the Curie temperature (TC) due to the polarization fluctuations in PNRs. The effects of Li-doping, defects, and electric fields on the growth and/or creation of PNRs are found using changes in acoustic properties. The electric-field-induced TC, which is shifted to higher values with increases in applied voltage, including critical endpoint (CEP) and field gradient by trapped electrons, are discussed as well. This new knowledge may give new insight into advanced functionality in perovskite ferroelectrics.
Keywords: Brillouin scattering; ferroelectric; macro- and nanodomains; perovskite; polar nanoregions; random fields.