Synthesis, structure, dielectric, piezoelectric, and energy storage performance of (Ba0.85Ca0.15)(Ti0.9Zr0.1)O3 ceramics prepared by different methods

Abstract

Lead free (Ba0.85Ca0.15)(Ti0.9Zr0.1)O3 (BCZT) ceramics prepared by the sol–gel method (SG) and solid-state method (SS) have been systemically investigated. It is found that Ti concentration, acetic acid concentration, bathing temperature of sol have the influence of different level for ferroelectric and dielectric properties of BCZT ceramics. The optimum parameters for the precursor conditions of BCZT ceramics by the sol–gel method are as follows: the Ti concentration is 0.50 mol/L, the acetic acid concentration is 40 %, the bathing temperature is 50 °C and the aging time is 8 h. The results indicated that BCZT-SG ceramics with the high density and fine-grained microstructure calcined at 1000 °C and sintering at 1420 °C for 6 h exhibit outstanding electrical and energy storage properties, which are as follow: Pr = 12.15 µC/cm2, Ec = 1.78 kV/cm, d33 = 558 pC/N, kp = 0.56, em = 16,480, er = 2234 and W = 0.52 J/cm3. Compared with BCZT ceramics with higher density prepared by solid-state method (SS), BCZT-SG ceramics all show more excellent performance than those of BCZT-SS ceramics.