Reduced dielectric loss and strain hysteresis in (0.97−x)BiScO3–xPbTiO3–0.03Pb(Mn1/3Nb2/3)O3 piezoelectric ceramics

(0.97−x)BiScO3–xPbTiO3–0.03Pb(Mn1/3Nb2/3)O3 (BS–PT–PMnN) ceramics were prepared by solid-state reaction method. X-ray diffraction analysis revealed that the morphotropic phase boundary (MPB) of BS–PT–PMnN ceramics located near x=0.58. The high Curie temperature (437 °C), large piezoelectric constant (300 pC/N), low dielectric loss (0.015) and small strain hysteresis (20%) were obtained for the MPB composition. Its dielectric loss and strain hysteresis were reduced down to one third and half those of pure BiScO3–PbTiO3 (BS–PT) ceramics, respectively. In addition, the maximum vibration velocity of the BS–PT–PMnN ceramics was 0.85 ms−1, much superior to those of BS–PT (0.15 ms−1) and modified PZT (0.4 ms−1) ceramics. These results indicated BS–PT–PMnN ceramics were promising candidates for high temperature piezoelectric applications.