Large pyroelectric figure of merits for Sr-modified Ba0.85Ca0.15Zr0.1Ti0.9O3 ceramics

In the present work ferroelectric, dielectric and pyroelectric properties of Sr-modified Ba0.85Ca0.15Zr0.1-Ti0.9O3 ceramics were investigated. A significant increase in polarization has been observed, from 16 mu C/cm(2) to 25 mu C/cm(2) for 15% Sr added BCZT compositions. Correspondingly an improvement in dielectric constant, from 2743 to 4040, was observed at room temperature (1 MHz). It was found that Curie-Weiss temperature (T-CW) decreases from 357 K to 308 K for 15% Sr containing BCZT ceramics. Simultaneously, it also enhances the order-disorder to displacing phase transition as gamma varies from 1.91 to 1.31. Pyroelectric coefficient was found to be 25 mu C/cm(2)K at 308 K. Finally, pyroelectric figures of merit (FOMs) for voltage responsivity (F-v), current responsivity (F-i), detectivity (F-d), energy harvesting (F-e) and new energy harvesting (F-e*) are calculated. A large improvement in pyroelectric FOMs indicates that it might be a potential material for pyroelectric applications. (C) 2015 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.