Effect of the Mn doping concentration on the dielectric and ferroelectric properties of different-routes-fabricated BaTiO3-based ceramics

• We studied the Mn doping concentration effect on the BaTiO3-based ceramics with different fabrication routes.
• In BaTi(1-x)MnxO3 route, Curie temperature shifted to the low temperature with Mn increased.
• In BaTi(1-x)MnxO3 route, the aging effect of the samples enhanced with Mn increased.
• In BT + xMn route, the aging effect of the samples weakened with Mn increased.

In this work we systematically studied the effect of the Mn doping concentration on the microstructure, dielectric, and ferroelectric properties of the BaTiO3-based ceramics with different fabrication routes. We found that for the fabrication route of BaTi(1-x)MnxO3 (hereafter the x was 0.003, 0.007, 0.010, and 0.013), with the Mn concentration increased, the Curie temperature shifted to the low temperature, the aging effect of the samples enhanced, and the recoverable electro-strain decreased. This result was due to that Mn occupies the Ti site and generates oxygen vacancy. And with the Mn concentration increased the more oxygen vacancy was generated to affect the properties. Volume effect was dominant in the aging process in this fabrication route. While, for the fabrication route of BT + xMn, with the Mn concentration increased, the Curie temperature nearly no change, the aging effect of the samples weakened, and the recoverable electro-strain also decreased. This result was due to that the Mn was difficult to be soluble into the BaTiO3 ceramics and inhibited the grain growth. Thus with the Mn concentration increased, the fine grain formed. The grain boundary effect was responsible for the properties changes.