Structural and dielectric properties of a new lead-free ferroelectric Ba0.8Ca0.2Ti0.8Ge0.2O3 ceramics

• Lead free Ba0.8Ca0.2Ti0.8Ge0.2O3 ceramics.
• Dielectric and ferroelectric properties.
• Low coercive field for polarization switching.
• Change of the nature of BaTiO3 phase transition by co-doping.

This paper reports the development of a lead free Ba0.8Ca0.2Ti0.8Ge0.2O3 (BCTG) ceramics elaborated by a conventional sintering process. The BCTG exhibits interesting ferroelectric and dielectric properties. The XRD analysis showed that 20 at.% of Ge doping can be fully incorporated into the perovskite lattice of Ba1−xCaxTiO3. Dielectric properties revealed that the BCTG ceramic undergone a second order phase transition type at around 120 °C independently of the used frequency and behaves as displacive ferroelectric. Ferroelectric investigation showed that P–E hysteresis loop could be obtained at low applied electrical field. The BCTG compound may be highly promising for applications as lead-free ferroelectric materials to reduce environmental damages.