Microstructure and electrical properties of (Ba0.98Ca0.02)(Ti0.94Sn0.06)O3-modified Bi0.51Na0.50TiO3 lead-free ceramics

(Ba0.98Ca0.02)(Ti0.94Sn0.06)O-3-modified Bi0.51Na0.5TiO3 [(1 - x)BNT-xBCTS] ceramics were prepared by the normal sintering. A stable solid solution is well formed between BNT and BCTS, and the morphotropic phase boundary of (1 - x)BNT-xBCTS ceramics is identified in the compositional range of 0.05 <= x <= 0.06. The temperature dependence of the dielectric loss and the poling temperature dependence of the d(33) value are used to determine the depolarization value (T-d). The T-d value of these ceramics gradually decreases with increasing BCTS content, together with the gradual increase of the dielectric constant. An enhanced electrical behavior of d(33) similar to 170 pC/N, k(p) similar to 32.8%, P-r similar to 38.5 mu C/cm(2), and E-c similar to 34.3 kV/cm is demonstrated for the ceramic with x = 0.06, which is double than that of pure BNT ceramic. (c) 2012 Elsevier Ltd and Techna Group S.r.l. All rights reserved.