Enhancement in electro-strain behavior by La3+ substitution in lead free BaZr0.05Ti0.95O3 ceramics

Recently, lead-free piezoelectric ceramics have widely attracted interest among the research community, as they are considered to be potential substitutes for lead-based ceramics which causes environmental pollution due to the presence of hazardous lead oxide in them. In the present study we have synthesized La doped Ba1−x/2Lax/3(ZryTi1−y)O3 (x=0–0.06 in steps of 0.02; y=0, 0.05) ceramics by the conventional solid-state reaction method. Results reveal that electric field induced strain increases from ∼0.08% to ∼0.18% (at 40 kV/cm applied field) for x=0.02 and y=0.05 of lanthanum and zirconium substitution respectively compared to undoped BaTiO3. It was also observed that, sample with 2 mol% lanthanum could sustain higher electric field upto 120 kV/cm during strain measurement (without electrical breakdown) and results showed highest strain value of ∼0.3% in this system.

Graphical AbstractFig. 1 represents the strain electric field behavior of zirconium and lanthanum doped BaTiO3 at room temperature. The strain levels reach ∼0.18% from 0.08%. It can be seen that with increase in La substitution the degree of hysteresis also decreases from 25.4% to 2% for x=0.06. Figure optionsDownload as PowerPoint slideHighlights
► Lead free, La doped Ba1−x/2Lax/3(ZryTi1−y)O3 ceramic prepared by the solid-state reaction method in a single phase form.
► Electro-strain increased from ∼0.08% to ∼0.18% (at 40 kV/cm applied electric field) for the composition with x=0.02 and y=0.05 and could achieve the strain value of ∼0.3% at higher applied field for this composition.