Enhanced piezoelectric properties of 0.60 BiFeO3-0.35 PbTiO3-0.05 Pb(Zn1/3Nb2/3)O3 ceramics for high temperature applications

A series of solid solutions 0.60 BiFeO
₃
-0.35 PbTiO
₃
-0.05 Pb(Zn
_1/3
Nb
_2/3
)O
₃
(0.60BF-0.35PT-0.05PZN) were fabricated by solid state reaction method. This ternary system possessed the coexistence of both rhombohedral (R3c) and tetragonal (P4mm) phase. The 0.60BF-0.35PT-0.05PZN ceramics were mechanically and electrically robust and can be poled to obtain a high piezoelectricity. Sintering temperature had a strong influence on the structures and properties. The rhombohedral phase decreased with the increase of sintering temperature, which indicated the rhombohedral phase is metastability. The specimens exhibited the best dielectric and piezoelectric properties at sintering temperature of 1020 °C. After quenching at 650 °C, the content of tetragonal phase reduced, the dielectric constant increased, the piezoelectric constant d
₃₃
could be enhanced from 55 pC/N to 65 pC/N. In addition, the temperature stability of the ternary ceramic was also improved. The enhanced piezoelectric properties and high Curie temperature indicated that BF-PT-PZN ceramics were one of promising candidates for high temperature piezoelectric applications.