Ferroelectric, piezoelectric and electrostrictive properties of Ba(Ti1−xSnx)O3 ceramics obtained from nanocrystalline powder

Ba(Ti1−xSnx)O3 powders with particle size 77.48 nm has been obtained through high energy ball milling. A detailed TEM study confirms the particle size to be 77.48 nm. Electromechanical coupling constant (Kp), piezoelectric strain constant (d33) and density follow decreasing trend with increasing tin concentration. As Sn concentration increases, ferroelectricity decreases with lower values of coercive field and remnant polarization, and this is due to replacement of Ti4+ ion by Sn4+ ion in the ABO3 structure of BaTiO3. Considerable strain values have been observed with very low value of degree of hysteresis and this implies good applicability of the ceramics.