Structural and relaxor behavior of Ba[ZrxTi1−x−y](Zn1/3Nb2/3)yO3 ceramics obtained by a solid-state reaction

Ba[ZrxTi1−x−y](Zn1/3Nb2/3)yO3 (BZT–ZN) ceramics (x=0.1x=0.1) were prepared by the solid-state reaction route and their structural and dielectric properties were investigated. It was found at room temperature that the ceramics with y=0y=0, 0.05 and 0.1 present perovskite-type cubic structure. The temperature and frequency dependence of the dielectric constant was investigated in the temperature range from 80 to 400 K and for frequencies ranging from 0.1 to 500 kHz. It was observed that when yy increases from 0 to 0.1, the transition temperature decreases and the degree of diffuseness of the phase transition increases. For y=0.1y=0.1, a clear relaxor behavior was noted. In this case, the dielectric relaxation rate followed de Vogel–Fulcher relation with an activation energy of Ea=0.1eV, an attempt frequency F0=2×1014Hz and a static freezing temperature TVF=122K. The results are discussed in terms of existing models.