Ferroelectric phase stabilization, phase transformations and thermal properties in (1−x)PbZrO3–xPb(Co1/3Nb2/3)O3 solid solution

Abstract

The solid solution between the antiferroelectric PbZrO3 (PZ) and relaxor ferroelectric Pb(Co1/3Nb2/3)O3 (PCoN) was synthesized by the columbite method. The phase structure and thermal properties of (1−x)PZ–xPCoN, where x=0.0–0.3, were investigated. With these data, the ferroelectric phase diagram between PZ and PCoN has been established. The crystal structure data obtained from XRD indicates that the solid solution PZ–PCoN, where x=0.0–0.3, successively transforms from orthorhombic to rhombohedral symmetry with an increase in PCoN concentration. The AFE→FE phase transition was found in the compositions of 0.0≤x≤0.10. The AFE→FE phase transition shift to lower temperatures with higher compositions of x. The width of the temperature range of FE phase was increased with increasing amount of PCoN. It is apparent that the replacement of the Zr4+ ion by (Co1/3Nb2/3)4+ ions would decrease the driving force for antiparallel shift of Pb2+ ions, because they interrupt the translational symmetry. This interruption caused the appearance of a rhombohedral ferroelectric phase when the amount of PCoN was more than 10 mol%.