Strain-Induced Structural Phase Transition and its Effect on Piezoelectric Properties of (BZT-BCT)-(CeO < inf > 2 < /inf > ) Ceramics

Abstract

A strain-induced structural phase transition and its subsequent effect on the piezoelectric properties of BZT-BCT–x CeO2(x = 0–0.1 wt%) ceramics have been reported in this manuscript. BZT-BCT–x wt% CeO2lead-free piezoceramics were successfully been prepared using sol–gel method. X-ray diffraction spectra of BZT-BCT–x wt% CeO2(x = 0–0.10 wt%) ceramics showed a purely single-phase perovskite structure and a change in crystal structure between tetragonal and rhombohedral phases with increasing CeO2content. The strain-induced structural phase transition has resulted in excellent piezoelectric properties, d33 = 673 pC/N, kp~ 56%, and Tc = 110°C for BZT-BCT–0.08 wt% CeO2ceramics. Greatly improved temperature stability of the piezoelectric properties has been observed over a temperature range between 20°C and 90°C. The ferroelectric–paraelectric transition temperature, Tcobtained in this study is 17°C higher than those reported earlier.