Cerium-modified Aurivillius-type sodium lanthanum bismuth titanate with enhanced piezoactivities

The electrical, piezoelectric and dielectric properties of cerium-modified Aurivillius-type sodium lanthanum bismuth titanate (Na0.5La0.5Bi4Ti4O15, NLBT) ceramics were investigated. It was found the piezoelectric activities of NLBT ceramics were significantly improved by cerium modification. The piezoelectric coefficient d33 and Curie temperature Tc for the 0.50 wt.% cerium-modified NLBT were found to be 29 pC/N and 573 °C, respectively. The reasons for piezoelectric activities improvement by cerium modification were given. A small dielectric abnormity was observed in NLBT ceramics, which can be suppressed by cerium modification.