Dielectric, impedance and modulus spectroscopy of Pb(Zr0.52−x Ce x Ti0.48)O3 (x = 0.00, 0.10) ferroelectric ceramics

Abstract

Abstract Lead zirconate titanate (PZT) ceramics of morphotropical phase boundary (MPB) composition shows enhanced physical properties on modification with suitable ions. In this work, Pb(Zr0.52-xCe x Ti0.48)O3, x = 0.00, 0.10 (PZCT) ferroelectric ceramics have been synthesized by solid state synthesis route. The ferroelectric nature of samples is confirmed by their transition of phase from the ferroelectric phase to the paraelectric phase. At 1 MHz frequency, the Curie temperature (T c ) of the material is slightly decreased to ∼375 °C from ∼377 °C. But at the aforementioned frequency, the magnitude of relative dielectric constant (ϵ r ) has been enhanced to ∼282 from ∼264 due to the substitution of cerium (Ce+4) ions at the zirconium site. Even at higher frequencies ranging from 1 kHz to 1 MHz, Ce modified PZT has shown negligible tangent loss (tan δ) upto 350 °C. The electrical response of the material is mainly governed by grain interiors only not by grain boundaries and electrode-interface. Electric modulus formalism analysis confirmed the occurrence of non-Debye type of electrical relaxation phenomenon in the material. The electrical conduction of the material is a thermally activated phenomenon, and it is governed by Jonscher's power law. The decrease in resistance of the compounds, with rise in temperature, indicate their semiconductor behavior (i.e. negative temperature coefficient of resistance behavior) at higher temperatures.