Dielectric, piezoelectric, and ferroelectric properties of lanthanum-modified PZTFN ceramics

Abstract

Specimens of Pb_1−1.5xLa _x(Zr_0.53Ti_0.47)_1−y−zFe _yNb _zO₃ (x = 0, 0.004, 0.008, 0.012, and 0.016, y = z = 0.01) (PZTFN) ceramics were synthesized by a semi-wet route. In the present study, the effect of La doping was investigated on the structural, microstructural, dielectric, piezoelectric, and ferroelectric properties of the ceramics. The results show that, the tetragonal (space group P4mm) and rhombohedral (space group R3c) phases are observed to coexist in the sample at x = 0.012. Microstructural investigations of all the samples reveal that La doping inhibits grain growth. Doping of La into PZTFN improves the dielectric, ferroelectric, and piezoelectric properties of the ceramics. The hysteresis loops of all specimens exhibit nonlinear behavior. The dielectric, piezoelectric and ferroelectric properties show a maximum response at x ≥ 0.012, which corresponds to the morphotropic phase boundary (MPB).

Keywords

ceramics / lanthanum / doping / dielectric properties / piezoelectricity / ferroelectricity / Rietveld refinement / hysteresis loops

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