Dielectric and Ferroelectric Properties of Rare Earth Doped Lead Zirconate Titanate Ceramics

Abstract

We have synthesized La3+ and Sc3+ doped lead zirconate titanate electroceramics with the stoichiometric formula ( (PLZTS), where x = 0.1 and y = 0.2, 0.4, 0.6 & 0.8, by a conventional solid-state reaction method & investigated its structural, microstructural, dielectric, electrical and ferroelectric properties. X-ray diffractometry was used to probe the phase purity and to derive the crystallographic parameters. Furthermore, structural phase transition was investigated by analyzing Raman spectra recorded in the temperature window of 80-580 K. The size, shape, and the distribution of grains were examined through a scanning electron microscope (SEM) and the sample was subjected to energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS) for elemental analysis. We have carried out dielectric and electrical measurements on Pt/PLZTS/Pt metal-ferroelectric-metal capacitors using impedance analyzer and electrometer, respectively, as a function of temperature (100-600 K) and frequency (102-106 Hz). High dielectric constants (ɛ’) ~280, ~500, ~1800 & 1000 for y = 0.2, 0.4, 0.6 & 0.8 respectively were observed at room temperature. We measured hysteresis loops which proved the existence of ferroelectricity in all prepared samples of different compositions. These results provide insights into PLZTS ferroelectric capacitor for its potential applications in the future electronic devices.