Local structure and evolution of relaxor behavior in BaTiO3–Bi(Zn0.5Ti0.5)O3 ceramics

In this paper, the local structure in relation to relaxor ferroelectric behavior of (1−x)BaTiO3–xBi(Zn0.5Ti0.5)O3 (with x=0.05–0.13) ceramics was studied. The evolution of phase transition from tetragonal to rhombohedral structure at room temperature in the BaTiO3–Bi(Zn0.5Ti0.5)O3 (BT-BZT) solid solution with increasing Bi(Zn0.5Ti0.5)O3 content was analyzed by the conventional X-ray Diffraction (XRD) technique. Furthermore, the local atomic position of Ti atoms in the BT-BZT was investigated by the synchrotron X-ray Absorption Spectroscopy (XAS) technique. The XAS results indicated a change in local structure around the Ti absorbing atom, which corresponds with the phase transition from tetragonal to rhombohedral structure. Finally, the characteristic cooperative freezing temperature of the polar regions was determined to follow the frequency-dependent Vogel–Fulcher relation.