The phase structure, electrical properties, and correlated characterizations of (Mn, Sb) co-tuned PZMnNS-PZT ceramics with relaxation behavior near the morphotropic phase boundary

A normal to relaxor ferroelectric transition was induced by (Mn, Sb) co-tuned Pb[(MnxZn0.1−x)1/3(SbxNb0.1−x)2/3(Zr0.505Ti0.4895)0.9]O3 (x=0−0.1) ceramics near the morphotropic phase boundary using the precursor columbite method. To probe the crystal structure evolution, Raman scattering spectra and fine-scanning fitting curves for XRD patterns were obtained, showing that the B-O bonding energy and the fraction of tetragonal phase decreased with increasing x content. The relaxation degree (ΔTrelax), diffuseness degree (ΔTdiff (1 kHz)), and diffuseness exponent (γ) of ceramics increased with x content due to increase in the fraction of rhombohedral phase, inducing a short-range order. Correspondingly, the “hard” effect was enhanced and the mechanical loss Qm−1 decreased from 0.01163 to 0.00063. The square ratio (Rsqu) decreased with increasing x content relating to the increase in reduced amount of space charge and the decrease in Qm−1. Moreover, the temperature change rate of resonant frequency (TCFr) and mechanical quality factor (TCQm) could be made approximately zero by adjusting x for temperatures of up to 100 °C. To retain the original resonant characterizations of power transducers at high temperature, the trade-off composition of ceramics was obtained at x=0.08 with properties: kp=0.50, Qm−1=0.00071, ε33T/ε0=900, tan δ=0.0065, γ=1.65, TCFr=−0.02%, and TCQm=10.6%.