Effects of doping Eu2O3 on the phase transformation and piezoelectric properties of Na0.5Bi0.5TiO3-based ceramics

(Na0.5Bi0.5)((1-1.5x))EuxTiO3 ceramics have been prepared by solid state reaction at 1120 degreesC for 2 h. Scanning electronic micrograph results indicate that the doped Eu2O3 can prohibit the grain growth. With increasing the doped amount of Eu2O3, the phase transformation (rhombohedral --> cubic) can be observed in the X-ray diffraction patterns, and correlated with a strong decrease in the piezoelectric properties d(33). The dielectric constants of poled and unpoled Na0.5Bi0.5TiO3 (NBT)-0 samples vary greatly as compared to NBT-5 sample due to the change of crystal structure. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.