Author(s)

Fares Kahoul, Louanes Hamzioui, Nora Abdessalem, Ahmed Boutarfaia

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The structural and electrical properties of Pb_0.98Sm_0.02[(Zr_y,Ti_1–y)_0.98( Fe_1/2³⁺,Nb_1/2⁵⁺)_0.02]O₃ ceramics system with the composition near the morphotropic phase boundary were investigated as a function of the Zr/Ti ratio by X-ray diffraction (XRD). Studies were performed on the samples prepared by solid state reaction for y = 0.47, 0.49, 051, 0.53, 0.55 and 0.57. Combined with piezoelectric properties results, it was consistently shown that an MPB exists between y = 0.51 and y = 0.55 in this system. When y < 0.51, the tetragonal phase dominates at ambient temperatures. In the range of y > 0.55, the rhombohedral phase dominates. Lattice parameters of the tetragonal phase and rhombohedral phase were found to vary with chemical composition. The average particle size ranged from 17.18 to 26.05 nm. The dielectric (ε = 1076), tan δ = 0.013 and piezoelectric properties (d₃₁ = 122 pC/N, kp = 0.631 and Qm = 462) obtained were maximum at y = 0.55 which could be suitable for possible electromechanical and energy harvesting applications.

X-Ray Methods; Co-Existence of Phase; Piezoelectric Properties; Dielectric Properties

F. Kahoul, L. Hamzioui, N. Abdessalem and A. Boutarfaia, "Synthesis and Piezoelectric Properties of Pb_0.98Sm_0.02[(Zr_y,Ti_1–y)_0.98(Fe_1/2³⁺,Nb_1/2⁵⁺)_0.02]O₃ Ceramics," Materials Sciences and Applications, Vol. 3 No. 1, 2012, pp. 50-58. doi: 10.4236/msa.2012.31008.