Structural, Dielectric, and Ferroelectric Properties of the (1-x)PbTiO3-xBiAlO3 Solid Solution

Ferroelectric ceramics derived from the solid solution of (1-x)PbTiO3-xBiAlO(3) (x = 0, 0.05, 0.10, 0.15, and 0.18) have been synthesized by solid-state reactions. A pure perovskite phase is formed for 0 <= x <= 0.15. The tetragonality (c/a) of the solid solution decreases with the increasing amount of BiAlO3. Scanning electron microscopic images reveal a microstructure with a fine grain size of less than 1 mu m for the solid solution ceramics (x >= 0.05). Compared with pure PbTiO3 ceramics whose high conductivity and poor densification were harmful to their dielectric performance, the ceramics of (1-x) PbTiO3-xBiAlO(3) are well-densified (with a relative density of up to 93%) and their dielectric and ferroelectric properties are significantly improved with the addition of BiAlO3, exhibiting reduced dielectric losses, well-developed P-E hysteresis loops (for x = 0.05, 0.10, and 0.15) and a high remnant polarization (P-r) of 64 mu C/cm(2) (for x = 0.15).