Enhanced electrical properties of (Zn, Mn)-modified BiFeO3-BaTiO3 lead-free ceramics prepared via sol-gel method and two-step sintering

Lead-free 0.7BiFe(1-2x)Zn(x)Mn(x)O(3)-0.3BaTiO(3) (BFZMx-BT) piezoceramics were prepared through the sol-gel method followed by a two-step sintering process. The crystal structure and microstructure were investigated by X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, Raman spectroscopy, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, which revealed that the addition of Zn and Mn ions resulted in a noticeable modification of the microstructure. The BF-BT modification through (Zn, Mn) equivalent codoping induces grain size variation and oxygen vacancies, resulting in an enhancement in the Curie temperature, dielectric properties, polarization magnitude, and strain response. A large remnant polarization (2P(r) = 94.6 mu C/CM2), low leakage current (7.94 x 10(-6) A/cm(2)), high Curie temperature (473 degrees C), excellent piezoelectric constant (d(33) = 271 pC/N), high unipolar strain (0.353%), and high piezoelectric actuator constant (d(3)(3)* = 441 pm/V) were obtained for BFZMx-BT ceramics with x= 0.04. These results not only demonstrate the remarkable effect of (Zn, Mn) codoping on the BiFeO3-based piezoceramics, but may also shed light on the development of advanced piezoelectric materials with high performance. (C) 2021 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Automated summary

Lead-free 0.7BiFe(1-2x)Zn(x)Mn(x)O(3)-0.3BaTiO(3) (BFZMx-BT) piezoceramics were prepared via sol-gel method and two-step sintering process. The addition of Zn and Mn ions significantly modified the microstructure, resulting in enhanced Curie temperature, dielectric properties, and polarization magnitude. The codoping of (Zn, Mn) in BF-BT induced improved performance in terms of remnant polarization, leakage current, Curie temperature, piezoelectric constant, strain response, and piezoelectric actuator constant.