Structural, dielectric, and ferroelectric properties of the (1ߝx)PbTiO3-xBiAlO3 solid solution

Ferroelectric ceramics derived from the solid solution of (1ߝx)PbTiO
₃
-xBiAlO
₃
(x = 0, 0.05, 0.10, 0.15, and 0.18) have been synthesized by solid-state reactions. A pure perovskite phase is formed for 0 ⩽ x ⩽ 0.15. The tetragonality (c/a) of the solid solution decreases with the increasing amount of BiAlO
₃
. Scanning electron microscopic images reveal a microstructure with a fine grain size of less than 1 μm for the solid solution ceramics (x ⩾ 0.05). Compared with pure PbTiO3 ceramics whose high conductivity and poor densification were harmful to their dielectric performance, the ceramics of (1ߝx) PbTiO
₃
-xBiAlO
₃
are well-densified (with a relative density of up to 93%) and their dielectric and ferroelectric properties are significantly improved with the addition of BiAlO
₃
, exhibiting reduced dielectric losses, well-developed P-E hysteresis loops (for x = 0.05, 0.10, and 0.15) and a high remnant polarization (P
_r
) of 64 μC/cm
²
(for x = 0.15).