Effect of Sn content on dielectric, piezoelectric and ferroelectric properties for Pb(Zr0.35Ti0.65)1−xSnxO3 ceramics near morphotropic phase boundary

ABO3 perovskite structure Pb(Zr0.35Ti0.65)1−xSnxO3 (PZST) piezoelectric ceramics were synthesized by conventional solid state reaction method with the compositions near tetragonal to rhombohedral morphotropic phase of boundary (MPB). The influences of Sn content on dielectric, piezoelectric and ferroelectric properties of PZST piezoceramics were investigated while Zr/Ti ratio was fixed. With increasing Sn content, the c/a ratios and Curie temperatures TC decrease monotonically. Rayleigh law was explored to evaluate the piezoelectric behaviors as a function of loading electric field strength. Both Rayleigh coefficients αd   and dinit′ are increased with increasing Sn content, indicating that Sn content considerably increase the mobility of domain walls and also the piezoelectric nonlinear responses.