Relationship between Ferroelectric Performance, Crystal and Electronic Structures in SrBi2(Ta1-xNbx)1.95M0.05O9 (M = W, Mo)

SrBi2(Ta1-xNbx)(1.95)M0.05O9 (x = 0 similar to 1; M=Wand Mo) were investigated from the viewpoint of ferroelectric properties, crystal and electronic structures. By P-E hysteresis-loop and dielectric-constant measurements, it was demonstrated that both the W- and Mo-substituted samples exhibited higher remanent polarization and lower Curie temperature regardless of the Ta:Nb ratio. The Rietveld technique with the neutron diffraction data indicated that the tilting angles of the (Ta,Nb,M)-O-6 octahedra and the spontaneous polarization increased by the W and Mo substitutions. Such a change in the crystal structure explained well the behavior of the ferroelectric property. From electron-density analysis using synchrotron X-ray diffraction patters, it was suggested that the bond strength within the (Ta,Nb,M)-O-6 octahetron became weaker slightly by the partial replacements of W and Mo. (C) 2013 The Electrochemical Society. All rights reserved.