Dielectric and Piezoelectric Properties of "Lead-free" Piezoelectric Rhombohedral Ba(Ti0.92Zr0.08)O-3 Single Crystals

Rhombohedral Ba(Ti0.92Zr0.08)O-3 single crystals are fabricated using the cost-effective solid-state single crystal growth (SSCG) method; their dielectric and piezoelectric properties are also characterized. Measurements show that (001) Ba(Ti0.92Zr0.08)O-3 single crystals have an electromechanical coupling factor (k(33)) higher than 0.85, piezoelectric charge constant (d(33)) of about 950 [pC/N], and piezoelectric voltage constant (g(33)) higher than 40 [x10(-3) Vm/N]. Especially the d(33) of (001) Ba(Ti0.92Zr0.08)O-3 single crystals was by about six times higher than that of their ceramics. Because their electromechanical coupling factor (k(33)) and piezoelectric voltage constant (d(33), g(33)) are higher than those of soft PZT ceramics, it is expected that rhombohedral (001) Ba(Ti0.92Zr0.08)O-3 single crystals can be used as "lead-free" piezoelectric materials in many piezoelectric applications such as actuator, sensor, and transducer.