Phase transition and ferroelectric properties of xBiFeO3-(1-x)BaTiO3 ceramics

The mutiferroic xBiFeO(3)-(1-x)BaTiO3 (BFO-BT: x = 1.0, 0.9, 0.8, and 0.7) ceramics have been synthesized by the solid-state-reaction method with density higher than 90% of the theoretical value. Structural transition of BFO-BT ceramics were investigated by using in-situ high-resolution synchrotron X-ray diffraction upon heating. The Curie temperature (T-C) shifts toward lower temperature as BT content increases. This work suggests that the BT-substitution can enhance the dielectric response (or permittivity) at room temperature and also decreases the dielectric loss. The highest polarization attainable was improved from similar to 0.01 mu C/cm(2) in BFO to similar to 1.8 mu C/cm(2) in BFO-30%BT. (C) 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.