Enhanced piezoelectric performance of BiScO3-PbTiO3 ceramics modified by 0.03Pb(Sb1/2Nb1/2)O3

Abstract

A series of (0.97-x)BiScO3-xPbTiO3-0.03Pb(Sb1/2Nb1/2)O3 (BS-xPT-PSN) piezoelectric ceramics near the morphotropic phase boundary (MPB) for high-temperature actuation application have been devised and synthesized by traditional solid-state reaction method. The phase structure, morphology, dielectric, piezoelectric, and ferroelectric properties have been systematically investigated as a function of PbTiO3 content. X-ray diffraction (XRD) results revealed that with the content of PbTiO3 increasing, the phase structure of BS-xPT-PSN ceramics gradually varied from rhombohedral phase toward tetragonal phase. Combined with the dielectric, piezoelectric, and ferroelectric performances, it was clear that MPB of BS-xPT-PSN ceramics located at the region of x = 0.62. The piezoelectric constant d33, electromechanical coupling factor kp, Curie temperature Tc, remnant polarization Pr of BS-xPT-PSN ceramics with MPB composition were 553 pC/N, 56.7%, 384 °C, and 39.1 μC/cm2, respectively, which shows that BS-xPT-PSN ceramics exhibit enhanced piezoelectric performance, and also high Tc. Moreover, the devised BS-xPT-PSN ceramics reduced the consumption of expensive Sc2O3 component in pure BS-PT systems. Based on the enhanced piezoelectric performance and decreased cost, it can be deduced that the BS-xPT-PSN ceramics are promising for practical actuator or sensor applications in a relative high temperature environment.