Effect of Pb (Yb1/2Nb1/2)O3 on phase transition and thermal and electrical properties of PZ–PYbN solid solution on PZ-rich side

Abstract

The (1 − x)PbZrO3–xPb(Yb1/2Nb1/2)O3 (PZ–PYbN) ceramics, with the compositions, x = 0.00–0.50, were prepared by the wolframite precursor method. The crystal structure and electrical and thermal properties of PbZrO3 ceramic were investigated as a function of the composition, x, using X-ray diffraction, dielectric spectroscopy, hysteresis measurement and differential scanning calorimetry techniques. The results indicated that the solid solution, PZ–PYbN, changed from orthorhombic to rhombohedral symmetry when the amount of PYbN increased. The pyrochlore phase identified as Yb/Nb mixed compound was observed at the composition, x ≥ 0.2. For the compositions, x = 0.00–0.10, ceramics showed a sharp phase transition from AFE to PE. Furthermore, the intermediate FE phase was absent from the PZ–PYbN system.