Correlation between microstructural evolutions and electrical/mechanical behaviors in Nb/Ce co-doped Pb(Zr0.52Ti0.48)O3 ceramics at different sintering temperatures

- The intensity of permittivity peaks increase with increasing sintering temperatures.
- The value of piezoelectric constant increases with increasing sintering temperatures.
- Second crack and crack deflection are observed in the sample sintered at 1200 °C.
- Domain switching mechanism contributes to the nonlinear ferroelastic deformation.

For Nb/Ce co-doped Pb(Zr0.52Ti0.48)O3 ceramics {Pb(Zr0.52Ti0.48)0.95Nb0.05O3 + 0.2 wt.%CeO2} sintered between 1150 °C and 1250 °C, with increasing sintering temperatures, a gradual lattice distortion associated with an increased grain size are identified. Electrical test reveals that the ceramics exhibit a diffused phase transition, and the intensity of permittivity peaks increase with increase in sintering temperatures. The samples sintered at higher temperatures present a stronger piezoelectric property because of a larger grain size. While the mechanical test demonstrates that the samples sintered at lower temperatures exhibited a higher hardness because of a smaller grain size. Both the second crack and crack deflection are observed in the sample sintered at 1200 °C. The domain switching caused by a compression load contributes to the nonlinear ferroelastic deformation of ceramics. At last, the sample sintered at 1125 °C gains some good properties such as: Tc = 312 °C; d33 = 443 pC/N; KIC = 0.66 MPa m1/2 and σc = 430 MPa.

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