Dielectric, Ferroelectric and Piezoelectric Studies of PMN Modified PLZT Ceramics

Dielectric, ferroelectric and piezoelectric properties of xPb(Mg_1/3Nb_2/3)O₃-(1-x)(Pb_0.988 La_0.012)(Zr_0.535Ti_0.465)O₃ ceramic system synthesized through columbite precursor method are investigated. X-ray diffraction patterns of ceramics indicated pseudocubic phase formation with pyrochlore phase. Grain growth (4.47 μ m) and apparent density (7.68 gm/cm³) enhanced remarkably in 0.8PMN-0.2PLZT composition, respectively. Increasing PMN content remarkably increased both room temperature dielectric permittivity (ε_RT = 2316) and dielectric maximum (ε_Tc = 24747) in 0.6PMN-0.4PLZT composition, respectively. PMN substitution in PLZT system enhanced the ferroelectric remanent (P_r = 28.4 μ C/cm²) and spontaneous (P_s = 31.2 μ C/cm²) polarization while coercive field (E_c) continuously decreased in xPMN-(1-x)PLZT system. PMN modification in PLZT system influenced piezoelectric properties (d₃₃, k_p and k_t) throughout the PMN-PLZT system.