Mn doped hard type perovskite high-temperature BYPT–PZN ternary piezoelectric ceramics

• Mn improved the Qm of the BYPT–PZN type high Tc ceramics without affecting its piezoelectric properties and Tc.
• A Qm about one order of magnitude higher than those of other perovskite type high Tc piezoelectric ceramics was achieved.
• The mechanism was attributed to the improved microstructure and the ‘acceptor’ type doping effect of Mn.

The undoped perovskite type high Curie temperature (Tc) piezoelectric ceramics usually show a rather low mechanical quality factor (Qm) with low energy conversion efficiency. In this study, the microstructure and electric properties of Mn doped new perovskite ternary high Curie temperature piezoelectric ceramic system BYPT–PZN–xMn were investigated. After the addition of Mn, the Qm of the system was significantly increased, while the piezoelectric performance showed only a slight decrease. At a Mn content of 1.00 mol%, the ceramic showed a Qm of more than 1200, which is about one order of magnitude higher than those of other perovskite type high Curie temperature piezoelectric ceramics, implying a low energy loss of the material. Mn addition also enhanced the Tc of the system, and the depolarization temperature derived from high temperature d33 measurement of the sample with the best overall performance was higher than 300 °C. The improved performance is attributed to the improved density and poling efficiency as well as the ‘acceptor’ type doping effect of Mn.