Modifying the Electrical Properties of Ba0.85Ca0.15Zr0.1Ti0.9O3 Ceramics by the Nanocrystals-Induced Method

This work investigated the phase formation and electrical properties of Ba0.85Ca0.15Zr0.1Ti0.9O3 (BCZT) prepared by the nanocrystals-induced method. We prepared the nanocrystals or seeds by the molten salt method, using CaCO3 and TiO2 oxides as starting materials. The CaTiO3 seeds showed a pure perovskite phase, and we obtained a particle size of similar to 300 nm. After that, we mixed the CT seed with the starting powders of Ba0.85Ca0.15Zr0.1Ti0.9O3 ceramic, prepared by the solid state reaction method. Results found that all ceramics showed a pure perovskite phase. The density values were in the range of 5.51 to 5.64 g/cm(3), while relative density values were 96-99%. We measured the electrical properties (including dielectric, ferroelectric, and piezoelectric properties) as a function of CaTiO3 seed content. We obtained the highest dielectric constant (epsilon(r) similar to 4239) and lowest dielectric loss (tan delta similar to 0.010) measured at room temperature from a sample with x = 0.08. Moreover, the BCZT doped with CaTiO3 seed (x = 0.10) showed the highest values for the piezoelectric charge coefficient (d(33)) similar to 477 pC/N, piezoelectric voltage coefficient (g(33)) similar to 16x10(-3) Vm/N, and thickness mode electromechanical coupling (k(t)) similar to 51.18%. Results suggested that CaTiO3-seeds enhanced the electrical properties of the BCZT ceramic using low calcination temperatures and with less dwelling time.