The characteristics of (Pb,La)(Zr,Sn,Ti)O3 ceramics synthesized by coprecipitation method compared to conventional mixed oxide method

The relaxor antiferroelectric (Pb,La)(Zr,Sn,Ti)O-3 powders were synthesized by conventional mixed oxide method and coprecipitation method. The XRD patterns show that pure perovskite phase formation temperature was 700 A degrees C for the coprecipitation method and that was 1,100 A degrees C for the conventional mixed oxide method. Effect of the methods on sintering behavior and microstructures of the ceramics has been investigated by SEM. Both the samples exhibit typical antiferroelectric double hysteresis loops with maximum polarization of 18.2 mu C/cm(2), forward-switching field of 6.2 kV/mm by conventional mixed oxide method, and 33.1 mu C/cm(2), 4.3 kV/mm by coprecipitation method, respectively.