Effect of Pr3+ Addition on the Electrical Properties of 0.94(Bi0.5Na0.5)TiO3-0.06(Ba0.9Ca0.1)TiO3 Ceramic Obtained by Pechini Method

Abstract

AbstractThe influence of Pr3+ addition on the structure and electrical properties of (Bi,Na)TiO3-(Ba,Ca)TiO3 solid solution was investigated. In this work, 0.94(Bi0.5−xNa0.5)TiO3-0.06(Ba0.9Ca0.1)TiO3:xPr3+ (BNBCT6:xPr) with x = 0, 0.1, 0.3, 0.5, and 0.7 mol% ceramics were prepared via a polymeric complex synthesis (Pechini method). Optimal sintering parameters were chosen in order to obtain dense ceramic microstructures. X-ray diffraction confirmed the presence of a perovskite-like structure in all the synthetized powders and sintered samples. As Pr3+ content increased, a large reduction in grain size was observed. BNBCT6:xPr ceramics showed a phase transition from the field-induced ferroelectric to the relaxor phase at ~ 110 °C and a local maximum around 250 °C. Dielectric permittivity was reduced as Pr3+ doping increased. For x = 0.5 mol%, maximum piezoelectric values (d33 = 115 pC/N, − d31 = 27 pC/N, kp = 25%, and kt = 34%) were obtained, while for x = 0.7 mol%, ferroelectric characteristics (Pr = 14 µC/cm2, and Ec = 34.7 kV/cm) were enhanced. Bulk conductivities extracted from the impedance spectra for BNBCT6:xPr were low, consistent with the insulating characteristic of (Bi,Na)TiO3. The achieved electrical properties suggest that BNBCT6:xPr ceramics are a potential candidate for energy transition applications.