Effect of tungsten on the structure and piezoelectric properties of PZN-PZT ceramics

0.2PZN-0.8PZT ceramics with pure perovskite structure were prepared by the two-step method with the addition of 0-1.5 wt-% WO3 and their piezoelectric properties were investigated. The WO3 addition influences the lattice structure and W6+ will replace B-site ions of perovskite, which will lead to the decrease of the lattice constant. Compared to the increase of the dielectric constant (epsilon) and mechanical quality factor (Q(m)), the values of coercive electric field (E-c, remnant polarization (P-r), electromechanical coupling factor (K-p), and piezoelectric constant (d(33)) decrease with increasing WO3 addition. The composition with 1-0 wt-% of WO3 addition on 0.2PZN-0.8PZT ceramics exhibits excellent piezoelectric properties, showing great promise as practical materials for high power piezoelectric devices. (C) 2006 Elsevier Ltd and Techna Group S.r.l. All rights reserved.