Grain size effect on piezoelectric and ferroelectric properties of BaTiO3 ceramics

A series of dense barium titanate (BaTiO3, BTO) ceramics with different grain sizes (GS) were prepared by two-step sintering method. The effect of GS on piezoelectric coefficient (d(33)) and planar electromechanical coupling factor (k(p)) displayed a trend similar to that on relative permittivity (epsilon'). The values of d(33), k(p) and epsilon' increased significantly with decreasing GS, reaching maximum values (epsilon' = 6079, d(33) = 519 pC/N and k(p) =39.5%) at approximately 1 mu m, and then decreased rapidly with further decreasing GS. The results revealed that high-performance BTO ceramics could be effectively prepared by controlling GS. Polarization electric field hysteresis loops and temperature dependence of epsilon' were also investigated. (C) 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.