Dielectric properties of neodymium-modified PLZT ceramics

Abstract

Relaxor ferroelectrics or relaxors are a class of disordered single crystals and ceramic materials, of peculiar structure as well as properties. The commonly known examples of such materials are Pb(Mg,Nb)O3 (PMN) ceramics as well as single crystals. The second most extensively studied relaxor ceramics is lanthanum-doped lead zirconate–titanate, described as x/65/35 PLZT when lanthanum content is x = 6–10 at%. Throughout the last few decades, there has been an increasing interest in rare-earth-doped PLZT ceramics, because PLZT can be easily substituted with lanthanide elements for La3+ ions. For this reason, the present studies concern the changes in microstructure and crystal structure as well as in dielectric properties, caused by modification of 8/65/35 PLZT with neodymium dopant. Modification of this material with Nd3+ influences the microstructure, electrooptical and dielectric properties, whereas the changes in crystal structure are slight. It was also observed that the maximum value of dielectric properties decreases and moves to a low temperature. Described changes in physical properties are associated with the significant improvement of relaxor properties, characteristic for pure 8/65/35 PLZT ceramics.