Structural, dielectric and piezoelectric studies of (1-x) PLSZNT-xBaTiO3 ceramics

(1 - x)Pb0.973La0.012Sr0.015(Zr0.53Ti0.47)(0.9845)Nb-0.0103-xBaTiO(3) polycrystalline solid solutions abbreviated hereafter as (1 - x)PLSZNT-xBT, where x(BT) = 0.1, 0.2, 0.3, 0.4 and 0.5 have been fabricated through high-temperature solid-state reaction technique and investigated for phase formation evolution, microstructural studies, apparent density, dielectric behavior and piezoelectric properties. Introduction of BT into PLSZNT lattice showed a single-phase ferroelectric tetragonal structure, and further increment of BT content resulted in stabilizing the ferroelectric tetragonal (FETET) perovskite phase. Microstructure, apparent density, dielectric behavior and piezoelectric coefficients were examined as a function of BT content. It was perceived that BT diffusion into PLSZNT was homogeneous, and increasing BT enhanced the grain growth and dielectric response till x = 0.5. TEM studies of calcined powders revealed an average particle size ranging from 22 to 84 nm. The study of dielectric and piezoelectric properties of the sintered and poled samples indicate that increasing BT content influenced both the parameters, respectively. The substitution till x = 0.5 evidently increased dielectric and piezoelectric properties with a relatively decreasing Curie temperature in the PLSZNT-BT ceramic system which may be applicable for possible capacitor, sensor and actuator applications. (C) 2007 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.