Influence of synthesis route on the properties of lead iron niobate

Pb(Fe
_1/2
Nb
_1/2
)O
₃
powders have been prepared via different synthesis routes: conventional solid state, molten salt, combustion, hydrothermal and mechanochemical activation assisted syntheses. The homogenized powders were pressed into pellets, sintered at 1000 °C in an oxygen atmosphere and characterized. The ceramic samples prepared by mechanochemical activation assisted synthesis exhibited the best functional properties. These ceramics were highly dense, with no secondary phases exhibiting sharp ferroelectric hysteresis loops with the remanent polarization 28.1μC/cm
²
and coercive field 3.1 kV/cm. In all other samples, the dielectric permittivity, dielectric losses versus temperature and polarization versus electric field measurements reveal enhanced electrical conductivity.