Piezoelectric properties and phase transition temperatures of the solid solution of (1 − x)(Bi0.5Na0.5)TiO3–xSrTiO3

The phase diagram of (1 − x)(Bi0.5Na0.5)TiO3–xSrTiO3 was completed and investigations on polarization and strain in this system were carried out. (1 − x)(Bi0.5Na0.5)TiO3–xSrTiO3-ceramics were prepared by conventional mixed oxide processing. The depolarization temperature (Td), the temperature of the rhombohedral–tetragonal phase transition (Tr–t) and the Curie temperature (Tm) were determined by measuring the temperature dependence of the relative permittivity. All solid solutions of (1 − x)(Bi0.5Na0.5)TiO3–xSrTiO3 show relaxor behavior (A-site relaxor). From XRD-measurements a broad maximum of the lattice parameter can be observed around x = 0.5 but no structural evidence for a morphotropic phase boundary was found. SEM-analysis revealed a decrease of the grain size for increasing SrTiO3-content. At room temperature a maximum of strain of about 0.29% was found at x = 0.25 which coincides with a transition from a ferroelectric to an antiferroelectric phase. The temperature dependence of the displacement indicates an additional contribution from a structural transition (rhombohedral–tetragonal), which would be of certain relevance for the existence of a morphotropic phase boundary.