Effect of Nd3+ substitution on electric field induced strain behavior in lead zirconate stannate titanate (68/22/10) ceramics

• Nd doped can improve the antiferroelectric stability of PLZST ceramics.
• With the increase of Nd content, the strain of the ceramics enhanced.
• The largest electric field-induced strain of 0.63% was obtained.
• Large strain is beneficial for the development of transducers/actuators.

Pb1−3x/2Ndx(Zr0.68Sn0.22Ti0.1)O3 ceramics with large electrical field induced strain were prepared by Nd3+ doping. X-ray diffraction analysis showed that the substitution of Nd3+ for Pb2+ enhanced the stability of antiferroelectric phase due to the decrease of tolerance factor. Besides, with the increase of Nd3+ addition, the strain first improved with a maximum value at x = 0.02, and then decreased. Further, with increasing electric field and decreasing measuring frequency, the strain improved obviously. This is because that the reversal of the domains is more sufficient at large electric field and long time. The largest strain of 0.63% is obtained in the specimens with x = 0.02 at the frequency 1 Hz.

(a) P–E loops, (b) S–E loops of PNZST specimens with different Nd3+ addition. The inset in (a) shows the forward switching field of the electric field induced AFE to FE phase transition as a function of Nd3+ addition. The inset in (b) show the strain of the specimen with x = 0.02 as a function of cycle number.Figure optionsDownload as PowerPoint slide