Effect of sintering temperature on dielectric, piezoelectric and ferroelectric properties of BZT–BCT 50/50 ceramics

• Published in: Journal of alloys and compounds 2012-12, Vol.545, p.210-215
• Main Authors: Mishra, P., Sonia, Kumar, P.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Alloys; Ceramics; Condensed matter: electronic structure, electrical, magnetic, and optical properties; Density; Dielectric properties; Dielectric properties of solids and liquids; Dielectric response; Dielectrics, piezoelectrics, and ferroelectrics and their properties; Diffusion; Exact sciences and technology; Ferroelectric; Ferroelectricity and antiferroelectricity; Grain boundaries; Permittivity (dielectric function); Physics; Piezoelectricity; Piezoelectricity and electromechanical effects; Residual stress; Sintering; Titanium; X-ray diffraction
• ISSN: 0925-8388; 1873-4669
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jallcom.2012.08.017

► Sintering temperature greatly affects microstructural and electrical properties. ► εr increases with the increase of sintering temperature from 1300 to 1400°C. ► Dielectric study indicates composition fluctuations of polar micro-regions. ► Piezoelectric coefficient (d33) ∼281pC/N and a max. strain% ∼0.26. ► A potential material for dielectric and piezoelectric applications. Lead free 0.5[Ba(Zr0.2Ti0.8)O3]-0.5[(Ba0.7Ca0.3)TiO3]/[BZT–BCT 50/50] ceramics were synthesized by conventional solid state reaction route. The effect of sintering temperature on structural and electrical properties of BZT–BCT 50/50 ceramics were studied in detail. The coexistence of tetragonal-monoclinic structures confirmed the MPB nature of BZT–BCT 50/50 ceramics. Grain size, density and dielectric constant at room temperature of BZT–BCT 50/50 ceramics increased with the increase of sintering temperature. Increase of Tc with sintering temperature confirmed the effect of relieving of internal stress by grain-boundary sliding. Increase of diffuse phase transition indicated that with the increase in sintering temperature the competition between Ti and Zr ions increased to occupy the same crystallographic site B, which leads to increase in composition fluctuations of different polar micro-regions. A max. strain as high as ∼0.36% has been obtained in BZT–BCT 50/50 ceramic samples sintered at 1300°C.