The oxygen octahedral tilted domains in 0.90(Bi1/2Na1/2)TiO3-0.5(Bi1/2K1/2)TiO3-0.5BaTiO3 lead-free perovskite piezoelectric ceramic have been studied by transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Selected-area electron diffraction patterns shows the 1/2ooo and 1/2ooe reflections, indicating the presence of antiphase (a-a-a-) and in-phase (aoaoc+) octahedral tilting, respectively. The morphology and distributions of these tilted domains are shown in the centered dark-field images. Further, the Bragg-filtered high-resolution TEM image reveals that the size of the in-phase tilted domains varies from 1 to 8 nm across. The ceramic contains the mixture of non-tilted and variants of the antiphase and in-phase tilted domains.
Lead-free ceramics (K0.44+xNa0.52Li0.04)(Nb0.86Ta0.10Sb0.04)O3+x/2 (x=-0,06) were prepared by conventional solid state sintering. The results indicate a correlation between crystalline symmetry and electrical properties. Higher tetragonality was observed in samples with higher piezoelectric response. As the tetragonality increase the presence of polymorphic phase decrease associated with a reduction of the relaxor behaviour response. The ceramics with c/a = 1.011 ratio exhibit enhanced electrical properties. The Raman spectroscopy showed a certain asymmetry in the paraelectric phase above the …
Recent developments in piezoelectric films have heightened the need for the reliable methods to correctly characterize their piezoelectric coefficients. Here, we demonstrate that capacitive displacement method can be used to determine longitudinal piezoelectric coefficients in both bulk and thin film of piezoelectric materials reliably and simply. Our technique allows accurate detection of elastic displacement at a level of 2 pm. This achievement is of great interest and significance for the development of piezoelectric integration technology in modern smartdevices.
The piezoelectric face-shear (d36) mode may be the most useful shear mode in piezoelectrics, while currently this mode can only exist in single crystals of specific point groups and cut directions. Theoretically the d36 coefficient vanishes in piezoelectric ceramics because of its transversally isotropic symmetry . In this work, we modified the symmetry of poled PZT ceramics from transversally isotropic to orthogonal through ferroelastic domain switching by applying a high lateral stress along the "2" direction and holding the stress for several hours. After removing the compression, the piezo…
Observations by in-situ transmission electron microscopy (TEM) reveal the changes in domains morphology in 0.885(Bi1/2Na1/2)TiO3-0.05(Bi1/2K1/2)TiO3-0.015(Bi1/2Li1/2)TiO3-0.05BaTiO3 ceramics. Evolution of the macroscopic ferroelectric domains has been observed at 25 oC to 180 oC. The ferroelectric domains and their walls reduce progressively with increasing temperature. In the selected-area electron diffraction (SAED) patterns the crystallographic evidence of antiferroelectric domain is not found over the temperature range, which provides the evidence that the ferroelectric-antiferroelectric t…
The structure and dielectric properties of 6% $\rm{Sr}^{2+}$-substituted, modified Lead Zirconium Titanate (PZT) piezoelectric ceramic, with composition $[\rm{Pb}_{0.94}\rm{Sr}_{0.06}][(\rm{Mn}_{1/3}\rm{Sb}_{2/3})_{0.05}(\rm{Zr}_{0.54}\rm{Ti}_{0.46})_{0.95}]O_3$ and lead manganese antimonite as an additional dopant, synthesized by ceramic route have been investigated in a frequency range from 50Hz to 1MHz and in a temperature range between room temperature and 633K. The scanning electron micrograph of the sample taken at the room temperature confirms the formation of a fairly homogenous struct…
We report on the frequency and stress dependence of the direct piezoelectric d33 coefficient in BiFeO3 ceramics. The measurements reveal considerable piezoelectric nonlinearity, i.e., dependence of d33 on the amplitude of the dynamic stress. The nonlinear response suggests a large irreversible contribution of non-180° domain walls to the piezoelectric response of the ferrite, which, at present measurement conditions, reached a maximum of 38% of the total measured d33. In agreement with this interpretation, both types of non-180° domain walls, characteristic for the rhombohedral BiFeO3, i.e., 7…
A method for evaluating the piezoelectric response of unpoled ferroelectric ceramics from elastic and dielectric measurements is proposed and tested on BaTiO$_3$. The method is based on the observation that the softening in a ferroelectric phase with respect to the paraelectric phase is of piezoelectric origin. The angular averages of the piezoelectric softening in unpoled ceramics are calculated for ferroelectric phases of different symmetries. The expression of the orientational average with the piezoelectric and dielectric constants of single crystal tetragonal BaTiO$_3$ from the literature…
We report on the experimental investigation of a high-frequency (1MHz - 1.8GHz) dielectric dispersion in unpoled and poled Pb(Zr,Ti)O3 ceramics. Two overlapping loss peaks could be revealed in the dielectric spectrum. The linear dependence between the lower-frequency peak position and average grain size D, which holds for D< 10mkm, indicates that the corresponding polarization mechanism originates from piezoelectric resonances of grains. The intensity of the higher-frequency peak is drastically reduced by poling. It is thus proposed that this loss peak is related to domain-wall contribution to…
The fundamental shear horizontal (SH0) wave in plate-like structures is extremely useful for non-destructive testing (NDT) and structural health monitoring (SHM) as it is non-dispersive. However, currently the SH0 wave is usually excited by electromagnetic acoustic transducers (EMAT) whose energy conversion efficiency is fairly low. The face-shear (d36) mode piezoelectrics is more promising for SH0 wave excitation but this mode cannot appear in conventional piezoelectric ceramics. Recently, by modifying the symmetry of poled PbZr1-xTixO3 (PZT) ceramics via ferroelastic domain engineering, we r…
The lattice strain and domain switching behaviour was investigated as a function of cyclic field and grain orientation for a pseudorhombohedral composition of the high Curie point piezoelectric system xBiScO3 - (1-x)PbTiO3 (x = 0.40) by in-situ electric field diffraction technique with high energy synchrotron x-rays. Along the field direction, the system exhibts five time large strain along 100 as compared to the 111 direction. A one-to-one correspondence between the 200 lattice strain and the 111 domain switching suggests a strong correlation between the two phenomena.
Recent years have witnessed considerable work on the development of lead-free piezoelectric ceramic materials and their structure-property correlations. The development of piezo response is a strong function of phase evolution in these materials. In this work, we report the effect of Ru doping and consequent phase evolution on maximization of piezoelectric response of polycrystalline lead-free barium titanate, depicted as Ba(RuxTi1-x)O3 (BRT). The samples were prepared in a narrow compositional range of using conventional solid-state reaction method. Ru doping increases the leakage current of …
A new lead-free (1-x)Li0.12Na0.88NbO3-xBaTiO3 (0 to x to 40) piezoelectric ceramics have been prepared using conventional ceramics processing route. Structural analysis revealed an existence of morphotropic phase boundary (MPB), separating orthorhombic and tetragonal phases, between the BaTiO3 content, x = 10-12.5. A partial phase diagram has been established based on temperature-dependent permittivity data for this new system and a nearly vertical temperature-independent MPB is observed. An improvement in electrical properties near MPB (e.g., for x = 12.5; εr = 10489 at Tm, d33 = 30 pC/N, kp …
Piezoelectric and ferroelectric ceramics with a high Curie temperature (Tc) have attracted a growing attention owning to their applications under severe environments. In this work, phase structure, dielectric, ferroelectric and piezoelectric properties of (0.975-x)BiScO3-xPbTiO3-0.025Pb(Cd1/3Nb2/3)O3 ceramics (x = 0.58-0.64) were studied. A composition-induced structural transformation occurs from rhombohedral phase to tetragonal phase through an intermediate monoclinic phase with the increasing PT concentration. The relationship between structure and electrical properties of the system were d…
An optimization procedure determining the ideal configuration at the microstructural level of ferroelectric (FE) materials is applied to maximize piezoelectricity. Piezoelectricity in ceramic FEs differ significantly from that of single crystals because of the presence of crystallites (grains) possessing crystallographic axes aligned imperfectly. The piezoelectric properties of a polycrystalline (ceramic) FE is inextricably related to the grain orientation distribution (texture). The set of combination of variables, known as solution space, which dictates the texture of a ceramic is unlimited …
The importance of a high shear coefficient d15 (or d24) to the piezoelectric properties of domain-engineered and polycrystalline ferroelectrics is discussed. The extent of polarization rotation, as a mechanism of piezoelectric response, is directly correlated to the shear coefficient. The terms "rotator" and "extender" are introduced to distinguish the contrasting behaviors of crystals such as 4mm BaTiO3 and PbTiO3. In "rotator" ferroelectrics, where d15 is high relative to the longitudinal coefficient d33, polarization rotation is the dominant mechanism of piezoelectric response; the maximum …
High performance lead zirconate titanate (PZT) ceramics with aligned porosity for sensing applications were fabricated by an ice-templating method. To demonstrate the enhanced properties of these materials and their potential for sensor and hydrophone applications, the piezoelectric voltage constants hydrostatic parameters and AC conductivity as a function of the porosity in directions both parallel and perpendicular to the freezing temperature gradient were studied. As the porosity level was increased, PZT poled parallel to the freezing direction exhibited the highest coefficients, and hydros…
The powder of barium titanate (BaTiO3) synthesized by solid state was characterised by spherical grains of the average size about 500 nm. The double mechanical activation and calcination of raw materials was necessary to receive the monophase material. In order to improve the mouldability, the obtained barium titanate powder was granulated in spray drier. Pellets and beams from BaTiO3 granulate were manufactured by both uniaxial and isostatic pressing. The properties of barium titanate material at each stage of its fabrication (powder, granulate, sintered material) influencing on its applicati…
Polymer-piezoceramic 0-3 composites combine the flexibility of the polymers and the excellent piezoelectric properties of the ferroelectric based ceramic. While grain size of the ceramic powder is one of the important considerations in the fabrication of such composites, a correlation relating poling field induced structural changes and its possible influence on the overall piezoelectric response of the composite is still lacking. In this paper, we examine this issue on a 0-3 piezo-composite comprising of a ceramic powders of a low-lead piezoelectric alloy (x)Bi(Ni1/2Zr1/2O3-(1-x)PbTiO3 in pro…
The thermal conductivity of polycrystalline bulk PZT (lead-zirconate-titanate) has been investigated according to electrical boundary conditions and poling. The thermal conductivity of poled PZT was measured in the poling direction for open circuit and short circuit conditions. The short circuit thermal conductivity had the largest thermal conductivity. The relationship between these two thermal properties, the electrothermal coupling factor $k_{33}^κ$, was found to be similar to the electromechanical coupling factor $k_{33}$ relating elastic compliance under short circuit and open circuit con…
Structural and Optical properties of the (Na0.5 K0.5)y Li 1-y NbO3 (y = 0.934 & 0.936) ceramics have been explored in terms of the X-Ray diffraction patters, Rietveld analysis, UV-Vis spectroscopy, and Kubelka-Munk functions. Rietveld analysis of both these structures reveals them to be tetragonal with space group P4mm. It is found that increase in Li doping increases the optical band gap. Presence of additional hardening dopant MnO2 is found to have a uniform behavior for both these composition. With increasing MnO2 concentration, the band gap decreases indicative of increase in B-site cation…
Temperature-dependent dielectric permittivity of lead-free (LixNa1-x)NbO3 for nominal x = 0.04-0.20, prepared by solid state reaction followed by sintering, was studied to resolve often debated issue pertaining to exactness of morphotropic phase boundary (MPB) location along with structural aspects and phase stability in the system near MPB. Interestingly, a diffuse phase transition has been observed in the dielectric permittivity peak arising from the disorder induced in A-site and structural frustration in the perovskite cell due to Li substitution. A partial phase diagram has been proposed …
Dielectric behavior and conductivity mechanism in lead-free (100-x)(Li0.12Na0.88)NbO3-xBaTiO3 (0 to x to 40) piezoelectric ceramics were investigated using impedance spectroscopy over a wide temperature (-100 oC to500 oC) and frequency range (0.1 Hz to1 MHz). The grain and grain boundary response as well as the relaxation processes at different frequencies and temperatures were also discussed. A low frequency dispersion in dielectric permittivity (LFDD), a typical characteristic of high-temperature behavior was observed both below and above the ferro-paraelectric phase transition temperature, …
In this paper, a comprehensive methodology for characterizing the high power resonance behavior of bulk piezoelectric ceramics using the burst method is described. In the burst method, the sample is electrically driven at its resonance frequency, and then either a short circuit or an open circuit condition is imposed, after which the vibration decays at the resonance or antiresonance frequency, respectively. This decay can be used to measure the quality factor in either of these conditions. The resulting current in the short circuit vibration condition is related to the vibration velocity thro…
In this work, a new methodology for comparing high power performance of different piezoelectric materials is presented. When comparing high power performance of piezoelectric materials of varying compositions and vibration modes, there exists an inherent problem in comparing the mechanical quality factor directly. Typically the behavior of the mechanical quality factor is reported as a function of tip vibration velocity of the sample. This paper shows why this approach can be inherently problematic and proposes an energy approach to characterize the mechanical quality factor as the solution. B…
Pb(Mg1/3Nb2/3)O3-PbTiO3 solid solution (PMN(1-x)-PTx) ceramics with 0 <x<1 have been prepared by homo-epitaxial templated grain growth (HTGG) using cubic PMN-PT single crystal seeds as templates and nanoparticles for thes ceramic matrix. Samples were prepared using the doctor Blade method and sintered in a controlled atmosphere. They were then analysed by DTA, TGA, optical/scanning electron microscopy, Raman spectroscopy and imaging. Relationships between Raman parameters such as band component or area versus composition (x) are proposed. Wavenumber and peak area shifts from the single crystal…
The temperature dependence of elastic, dielectric, and piezoelectric properties of (65-x)Pb(Mg1/3Nb2/3)O3-xBaTiO335-PbTiO3 ceramics with x=0, 1, 2, 3, and 4 was investigated. Compound with x=2 was found to exhibit a large piezoelectric response (d31=-170 pC/N, d33=530 pC/N at 300 K). Particularly, its d31 value was nearly a constant over a temperature range from 185 to 360 K. A broad ferroelectric phase transition tuned by BaTiO3 doping was deduced from the dielectric constant, elastic compliance constant and Raman spectra. The temperature-stable piezoelectric response was attributed to the co…
In this work, we address the issue of peaking of piezoelectric response at a particular composition in the morphotropic phase boundary (MPB) region of (Pb0.940Sr0.06)(ZrxTi1-x)O3 (PSZT) piezoelectric ceramics. We present results of synchrotron x-ray powder diffraction, dielectric, piezoelectric and sound velocity studies to critically examine the applicability of various models for the peaking of physical properties. It is shown that the models based on the concepts of phase coexistence, polarization rotation due to monoclinic structure, tricritical point and temperature dependent softening of…
High resolution x-ray powder diffraction measurements on poled PbZr(1-x)TixO3 (PZT) ceramic samples close to the rhombohedral-tetragonal phase boundary (the so-called morphotropic phase boundary, MPB) have shown that for both rhombohedral and tetragonal compositions, the piezoelectric elongation of the unit cell does not occur along the polar directions but along those directions associated with the monoclinic distortion. This work provides the first direct evidence for the origin of the very high piezoelectricity in PZT.
The solid solution 0.5Ba(Ti0.8Zr0.2)O3-0.5(Ba0.7Ca0.3)TiO3 (BCZT) is a promising lead-free piezoelectric material with exceptionally high piezoelectric coefficients. The strong response is related to structural instabilities close to ambient temperature. We report here on temperature-induced anomalies in the dielectric, piezoelectric, and elastic coefficients and Raman spectroscopy of ceramic BCZT. The data indicate ferroelectric-ferroelectric structural phase transitions in this material in addition to those previously reported. An anomaly is also observed above the Curie temperature TC and i…
The nature of the cubic-like state in the lead-free piezoelectric ceramics 0.5K0.5Na0.5NbO3-0.5Na0.5Bi0.5TiO3 (KNN-50BNT) has been examined in detail by synchrotron x-ray diffraction (SD), selected area electron diffraction (SAED), neutron diffraction (ND), and temperature dependent dielectric characterization. The SD pattern of KNN-50BNT presents a pure perovskite structure with pseudocubic symmetry. However, superlattice reflections were observed by SAED and completely indexed by tetragonal symmetry with P4bm space group in ND pattern. The relaxor behavior of KNN-50BNT is compared with Pb-ba…
Fast-cooling after sintering or annealing of BiFeO3-BaTiO3 mixed oxide ceramics yields core-shell structures that give excellent functional properties, but their precise phase assemblage and nanostructure remains an open question. By comparing conventional electron energy loss spectroscopy (EELS) with scanning precession electron diffraction (SPED) mapping using a direct electron detector, we correlate chemical composition with the presence or absence of octahedral tilting and with changes in lattice parameters. This reveals that some grains have a 3-phase assemblage of a BaTiO3-rich pseudocub…
The contributory mechanisms associated with high piezoelectric response in piezoelectric ceramics have been examined by in-situ electric field dependent high energy synchro x-ray diffraction study. A comparative study of electric field induced lattice strain and the propensity for non-180o domain switching on two closeby compositions of a high performance piezoelectric alloy (1-x)PbTiO3-(x)BiScO3, one within the morphotropic phase boundary (MPB) region exhibiting d33 of 425 pC/N and another just outside the MPB region exhibiting d33 of 260 pC/N, unravelled that, inspite of the MPB specimen exh…
We report the phase diagram of (Ba1-xCax)(Zr0.1Ti0.9)O3 solid solution. It is found that substitution of smaller Ca ions for Ba ions can slightly increase the cubic-tetragonal(T) para-ferroelectric phase transition temperature and strongly decrease the T-orthorhombic (O) and O-rhombohedral (R) transition. This unique ferroelectric phase evolution is attributed to Ca off-centering effects. More importantly, lowering of the T-O or O-R phase transitions allows us to prepare the piezoelectric ceramics with a strain response as high as S/E~800 pm/V (E=10 kV/cm) over a wide range of compositions wit…
In piezoelectric ceramics the changes in the phase stabilities versus stress and temperature in the vicinity of the phase boundary play a central role. The present study was dedicated to the classical piezoelectric, lead-zirconate-titanate (PZT) ceramic with composition Pb(Zr$_{0.54}$Ti$_{0.46}$)O$_3$ at the Zr-rich side of the morphotropic phase boundary at which both intrinsic and extrinsic contributions to piezoelectricity are significant. The pressure-induced changes in this two-phase (rhombohedral $R3c$+monoclinic $Cm$ at room temperature and $R3c+P4mm$ above 1 GPa pressures) system were …
Results presented in this article demonstrate importance of taking into account such a phenomenon as the solid solution decomposition at the boundaries separating coexisting phases in lead-zirconate-titanate-based solid solutions with compositions belonging to the morphotropic boundary region of the "temperature-composition" phase diagram. It is shown that in the local decomposition of solid solutions in the vicinity of the boundaries separating the tetragonal and rhombohedral phases in lead-zirconate-titanate-based solid solutions lead to the changes of the chemical composition of the solid s…
Lead-free Ba0.85Ca0.15Zr0.10Ti0.90O3 (BCZT) ceramic exhibits excellent dielectric, ferroelectric and piezoelectric properties at the Morphotropic Phase Boundary (MPB). Previously, we demonstrated that the use of the anionic surfactant Sodium Dodecyl Sulfate (SDS, NaC12H25SO4) could enhance the dielectric properties of BCZT ceramic using surfactant-assisted solvothermal processing [1]. In the present study, structural, dielectric, ferroelectric properties, as well as electrocaloric effect and energy storage performances of this BCZT ceramic were thoroughly investigated. X-ray diffraction (XRD) …
Lead-free Ba0.85Ca0.15Zr0.10Ti0.90O3 (BCZT) ceramics have demonstrated excellent dielectric, ferroelectric and piezoelectric properties in comparison to lead-based materials. The synthesis of pure and crystalline BCZT nanopowders at low temperatures of 25, 80 and 160 C was reported previously by using a sol-gel method followed by a hydrothermal route. In this study, the structural, dielectric and ferroelectric properties of sintered BCZT ceramics at 1250 °C for 10h were investigated. XRD measurements revealed the presence of a single perovskite phase at room temperature with the coexistence of…
Bulk polycrystalline piezoelectric ceramics are extensively used in wide ranging applications as actuators, transducers, and sensors. For actuator applications, it is desirable that the piezoelectric ceramic gives as large electric field driven unipolar strain as possible. In recent years there is an increasing interest in the design and development of such piezoceramic materials. Here we show that piezoceramic discs (10 mm diameter) of PZT, BaTiO3-based and Na0.5Bi0.5TiO3-based polycrystalline piezoceramics can show very large unipolar strain 2 to 3 % when the thickness of the discs is reduce…
Oxygen octahedra tilting is a common structural phenomenon in perovskites and has been subject of intensive studies, particularly in rhombohedral Pb(Zr,Ti)O3 (PZT). Early reports suggest that the tilted octahedra may strongly affect the domain switching behavior, dielectric and piezoelectric properties of PZT ceramics. In a way similar to that proposed for tilts, however, charged defects, associated with oxygen vacancies, may also inhibit the motion of the domain walls, resulting macroscopically in pinched hysteresis loops and reduced piezoelectric response. Here, we revisit the early studies …
The site-doping strategy of barium titanate (BaTiO3) is a promising way to develop new lead-free materials for energy with enhanced dielectric and piezoelectric properties. A novel strategy to elaborated pure and crystalline Ba0.85Ca0.15Zr0.1Ti0.9O3(BCZT) ferroelectric powders at low temperature is proposed. It is based on sol-gel method followed by a hydrothermal reaction. The effects of preparation temperature on structure, crystallinity, purity, morphology and particles size distribution of BCZT powders were studied. It was clearly shown that pure and crystalline BCZT could be obtained over…
The origin of the very large piezoelectric response observed in the vicinity of the morphotropic phase boundary (MPB) in perovskite lead zirconate titanate and related systems has been under intensive studies. Polarization rotation ideas are frequently invoked to explain the piezoelectric properties. It was recently reported that lead titanate undergoes a phase transformation sequence $P4mm\to Pm\to Cm\to R\bar{3}c$ at 10 K as a function of hydrostatic pressure [M. Ahart et al. Nature Letters. \textbf{451}, 545 (2008)]. We demonstrate that this interpretation is not correct by (i) simulating t…
The contribution Delta_epsilon of extremely small motions of domain walls to small-signal permittivity of a multidomain ferroelectric sample has been a research issue for many years. In ferroelastic ferroelectrics such motions contribute also to their piezoelectric (by Delta_d) and elastic (by Delta_s) properties. Data about their simultaneous existence are scarce but those available point to mutual proportionality of Delta_epsilon, Delta_d and Delta_s, as expected. To understand the magnitude of extrinsic contributions, the origin of the restoring force acting on domain walls must be understo…
Efficient mechanical energy harvesting using the principle of piezoelectric effect demands specific material-property requirements. This includes a combination of large piezoelectric charge coefficient (dij), large elastic strain (εy), small elastic compliance (Sij), and small dielectric permittivity (\k{appa}ij). The present work undertakes structural, electrical, mechanical, and electromechanical characterization of pyrochlore-free lead magnesium niobate-lead titanate (1-x)[Pb(Mg(1/3)Nb(2/3)O3)]-xPbTiO3 at x = 0.3 or PMN-0.3PT, to estimate the above critical parameters for mechanical energy …
Ceramic solid solutions of PbZr(1-x)TixO3 (PZT) with compositions of about x= 0.50 are well-known for their extraordinarily large piezoelectric responses. The latter are highly anisotropic, and it was recently shown that, for the rhombohedral compositions (x< 0.5), the piezoelectric coefficients were largest away from the polar direction, contrary to common belief. Shortly afterwards a low-symmetry monoclinic phase was observed by synchrotron x-ray diffraction at around x=0.50. Similar behavior and features are also present in a number of related lead-based strongly-piezoelectric single crysta…
Understanding the response of ceramics operating in extreme environments is of interest for a variety of applications. Ab initio molecular dynamic simulations have been used to investigate the effect of structure and $B$-site (=Ti, Zr) cation composition of lanthanum-based oxides (La$_2$$B_2$O$_7$) on electronic-excitation-induced amorphization. We find that the amorphous transition in monoclinic layered perovskite La$_2$Ti$_2$O$_7$ occurs for a lower degree of electronic excitation than for cubic pyrochlore La$_2$Zr$_2$O$_7$. While in each case the formation of O$_2$-like molecules drives the…
We have investigated a water-stable sol-gel method based on ethylene glycol as a solvent and bridging ligand for the synthesis of ferroelectric lead zirconate titanate in bulk and thin film forms. This method offers lower toxicity of the solvent, higher stability towards atmospheric moisture and a simplified synthetic procedure compared to traditional sol-gel methods. Ceramic pellets of Nb-doped lead zirconate titanate (PNZT) in the rhombohedral phase were produced with high density and good piezoelectric properties, comparable to those reported in the literature and those found in commercial …
Lead-free BaTi0.89Sn0.11O3 (BTSn) ceramic was elaborated via a solid-state reaction method and its dielectric, ferroelectric, energy storage, electromechanical as well as electrocaloric properties were investigated at 25 kV/cm. Pure perovskite structure was confirmed by X-ray diffraction analysis. The maximum of the dielectric constant was found to be 17390 at 41 °C. The enhanced total energy density, the recovered energy density, and the energy storage efficiency of 92.7 mJ/cm3, 84.4 mJ/cm3, and 91.04%, respectively, were observed at 60 °C, whereas the highest storage efficiency of 95.87 % wa…
The solid solution $0.5Ba(Ti_{0.8}Zr_{0.2})O_3$-$0.5(Ba_{0.7}Ca_{0.3})TiO_3$ (BCZT) has become a promising member of the lead-free piezoelectric materials because of its exceptionally high piezoelectric properties. In this study, we focus on studying pressure-dependent Raman spectroscopy, powder x-ray diffraction and dielectric constant measurements on BCZT. The data show several structural transitions are present, where the system from ambient mixed phase (tetragonal, {\it {P4mm}}+ orthorhombic {\it {Amm2}}) transforms into single phase ({\it {P4mm}}) at 0.26 GPa, then converts into cubic pha…
The KNN rollercoaster: from bulk ceramics to phase engineered wafer-scale thin films
Politecnico di Milano（米兰理工大学）；STMicroelectronics（意法半导体）；Institute of Materials Research and Engineering (IMRE), Agency for Science, Technology and Research A*STAR（新加坡科技研究院材料研究与工程研究所）；University of Milano-Bicocca（米兰比可卡大学）
Atom probe tomography has been raising in prominence as a microscopy and microanalysis technique to gain sub-nanoscale information from technologically-relevant materials. However, the analysis of some functional ceramics, particularly perovskites, has remained challenging with extremely low yield and success rate. This seems particularly problematic for materials with high piezoelectric activity, which may be difficult to express at the low temperatures necessary for satisfactory atom probe analysis. Here, we demonstrate the analysis of commercial BaTiO3 particles embedded in a metallic matri…
Piezoelectric PZT solid solutions were studied as a function of pressure and temperature. Moderate pressure is found to induce phase transitions to monoclinic phases (Cm,Cc) for Ti-rich PZT, which are the same ferroelectric phases responsible for the high piezoelectric properties of the MPB. The following transformation sequence P4mm -> Cm -> Cc -> F1 -> F-1 was identified upon increasing pressure. Compression behaviour is dominated by: (1) a rotation and a reduction of the spontaneouspolarization and (2) octahedral tilting leading to unit cell doubling. Future studies as a function of pressur…
