Fabrication and electric properties of PZN-based ceramics using modified columbite method

Complex Pb(Zn1/3Nb2/3)O3 (PZN)-based ceramics have been prepared by three different columbite methods: conventional columbite (CC), B-site precursor columbite (BSPC) and A-site sequential mixing columbite (ASMC) method. The pyrochlore was not removed completely by IC and BSPC process for PZN-rich compositions. The transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS) observation of the BSPC samples show that the BaO was segregated at triple junctions, implying that stabilization of the perovskite structure of the specimens was not completely achieved due to element segregation. On the other hand, full perovskite phase could be obtained by ASMC method for all compositions. Although the pyrochlore phase could mostly be removed by all three processes for specimens with PZN contents less than 50%, the dielectric behavior of PZN-based ceramics was markedly affected by the processing procedures.