Dy2O3 Doped (Ba0.85Ca0.15)(Ti0.90Zr0.10)O3 Ceramics

Abstract

(Ba0.85Ca0.15)(Ti0.90Zr0.10)O3 (BCTZ)+ xwt%Dy2O3(x = 0–0.20) ceramics were prepared by conventional solid-state process, and the effects of Dy2O3 on the microstructure and the electrical properties were investigated. X-ray diffraction pattern confirmed that the BCTZ ceramics exhibit tetragonal structure, and stable solid solutions between BCTZ and Dy2O3 were well established in the range investigated. SEM images show that the addition of Dy2O3 restrains abnormal grain growth and leads to the formation of homogeneous microstructures during sintering. Dy3+ occupies B-site at x = 0–0.15, and A-site at x = 0.20 respectively. A-site occupation of Dy3+ into BCZT ceramic facilitates the ferroelectric domains reorientation and thus improves the piezoelectric properties significantly from 315pC/N(x = 0) to 425pC/N(x = 0.20). The corresponding planar electromechanical coupling factor at x = 0.20 was 49.1%. The A-site occupation(x = 0.2) also exhibits superiority to the improvement of dielectric properties and ferroelectric properties for BCZT ceramics (ϵ33 = 3264 at 1 kHz, 2Pr = 28.4μC/cm2, 2Ec = 5.28 kV/cm).