Effect of compositional variations on phase transition and electric field-induced strain of (Pb, Ba) (Nb, Zr, Sn, Ti)O3 ceramics

(Pb0.97Ba0.02)Nb-0.02(Zr0.55Sn0.45-xTix)(0.98)O-3 (PBNZST, 0.03 <= x <= 0.06) ceramics were prepared by conventional solid state synthesis and their crystal structure, ferroelectric, dielectric, and electric field-induced strain properties were systemically investigated. A transformation from antiferroelectric (AFE) phase to ferroelectric (FE) phase was observed at 0.05 < x < 0.06. Besides, with the increase of Ti content, the electric field-induced strain decreased, due to the larger strain of APE ceramics compared to FE ceramics. Further, when the measuring frequency decreased, the strain improved, because the electric field at low frequency allows a more efficient switching of domains, resulting in larger strain. The maximum strain of 0.55% was obtained in (Pb0.97Ba0.02)Nb-0.02(Zr0.55Sn0.45-xTix)(0.98)O-3 antiferroelectric ceramics with x=0.03 at 2 Hz. (C) 2012 Elsevier Ltd and Techna Group S.r.l. All rights reserved.