Investigating the Electromechanical properties of Ce-doped(Ba۰.۸۵Ca۰.۱۵)(Zr۰.۱Ti۰.۹)O۳ lead-free piezoceramics for actuatorapplications

In this work, lead-free [(Ba۰.۸۵,Ca۰.۱۵)۱-xCex/۲](Zr۰.۱,Ti۰.۹)O۳ (BCCexZT)piezoceramics were synthesized via solid state ceramic processing and the effects ofCeria, as a donor dopant, on dielectric, ferroelectric and electromechanical propertieswas investigated. The microstructure, phase composition, and local structure wereinvestigated by scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, and Ramanspectroscopy. Electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy was used to study thedefects and better understand the mechanism of the increase in the electromechanicalproperties.In [(Ba۰.۸۵,Ca۰.۱۵)۱-xCex/۲](Zr۰.۱,Ti۰.۹)O۳ samples, the highest d۳۳* value of ۱۱۵۰ pm/Vwas obtained for x=۰.۱at the lowest sintering temperature of ۱۳۵۰ °C, which wasmuch higher than pure BCZT (۷۸۰ pm/V). This increase in electromechanicalproperties would be related to the easier movement of domain which induces largerfield-dependent strains in Ce-doped samples. The EPR signals indicated theexistence of cation vacancies and confirmed the soft piezoelectric nature ofBCCe۰.۱ZT samples. The considerable increase in large signal coefficients occurredin a lower sintering temperature than that of pure BCZT and this makes BCCexZT agood candidate for room temperature actuator application.

کلیدواژه ها:

lead-free piezoceramic ، BCZT ، CeO۲ ، sintering temperature ، electromechanical properties