Aging rate of cerium doped Ba(Ti0.99Mn0.01)O3

In the present study, Ce-doped Ba(Ti0.99Mn0.01)O3 (BT-1Mn-xCe, x= 2, 5, 8, 10 mol%) lead-free ceramics were prepared by using the conventional solid state method. The morphologies, phase structures, dielectric properties and aging behaviors of the Ce-doped Ba(Ti0.99Mn0.01Ce)O3 samples were investigated to reveal the effects of cerium doping on their aging behaviors. The results show that all the samples have a single perovskite structure. With the cerium content increasing, the two transition temperatures (the Curie temperature TC and the tetragonal to orthorhombic structural transition temperature T1) gradually merged into one. Moreover, the dielectric permittivity shows a broad and diffuse peak with the cerium content increasing. The measurement of polarization-electric field (P-E) hysteresis loops shows a more and more obvious constricted tendency with the aging time increasing. For BT-1Mn-2Ce sample, the aging is fast and then slows down to a stable condition. While for x≥5 mol% samples, the aging is slow and then fast and does not reach a stable condition during the measured time. The relation between the aging rate and crystal structure was discussed. This may help us on controlling the aging behavior of other lead-free ferroelectric ceramics.