Pure PZT95/5 Ceramics and Its Phase Transition Behavior Under External Fields

Abstract

Background: Compositionally modified Pb(Zr0.95Ti0.05)O3 (PZT 95/5) ferroelectric materials have been extensively investigated in past decades for many important applications. However, few study on pure PZT95/5 ceramics have been reported. Objective: Herein, pure PZT95/5 ceramics were successfully prepared, and their microstructure and phase transition behaviors under external fields were studied. Methods: The pure PZT95/5 ceramics were prepared by the conventional solid state reaction using a mixed oxide route. The microstructure and its properties under different external fields were measured. Results: The X-ray diffraction patterns indicated that the virgin pure PZT95/5 ceramics exhibit an orthorhombic antiferroelectric phase, which has also been evidenced by the superlattice reflections in the SAED pattern. While a rhombohedral ferroelectric symmetry crystal structure was observed in the poled samples suggesting that an electric field induced antiferroelectric to ferroelectric phase transition takes place. Pure PZT95/5 ceramics exhibit a quenched ferroelectric hysteresis loop with a remnant polarization of ~8μC/cm2 under 3.5kV/mm. Temperature dependence dielectric response indicated that the orthorhombic antiferroelectric to cubic paraelectric phase transition occurs at 225°C, corresponding to its Curie temperature. A shard depolarization behavior and dielectric anomalies were observed under ~240 MPa hydrostatic pressure. Conclusions: The depolarization mechanism of pure PZT95/5 ceramics under hydrostatic pressure is attributed to the hydrostatic pressure-induced FE-AFE phase transition. These results will offer fundamental insights into PZT95/5 ceramics for pulsed power supply applications.