Structure and dielectric behavior of (1-x)Pb(Sc1/2Ta1/2)O3-xPb(In1/2Nb1/2)O3 solid solution

A solid solution system of (1-x)Pb(Sc1/2Ta1/2)O3-xPb(In1/2Nb1/2)O3 (x = 0.2, 0.4, 0.6, and 0.8) was synthesized by conventional solid-state reaction technique. The optimum sintering temperatures of ceramics with x = 0.2, 0.4, 0.6, and 0.8 were 1400 °C, 1400 °C, 1300 °C, and 1200 °C, respectively. At these temperatures, the densest samples and the maximum dielectric constant were obtained. With increasing x, the percentage of pyrochlore phase increased, indicating a decrease in the solubility of solid solution. For x = 0.2, with the sintering temperature increasing, the ordering degree decreased while the dielectric constant increased. For x = 0.6 and 0.8, at the highest sintering temperature, the most pyrochlore phase appeared and the minimum dielectric constant was obtained. In addition, the relaxor characteristics of solid solution ceramics were systematically investigated. It was found that the dielectric maximum decreased and the temperature at dielectric maximum shifted to higher temperature with x increasing. All compositions exhibited the second-order phase transition due to the analysis of dielectric behaviors on heating and cooling. Interestingly, the difference in dielectric maximum between heating and cooling became larger with PIN content increasing. The diffuseness exponents of all compositions were calculated to be in the range of 1.53-1.66, suggesting the typical relaxor. The polarization-electric field (P-E) hysteresis loops of all solid solutions showed the shapes of slim loop. Meanwhile, the coercive field and remnant polarization of all compositions were analyzed in detail.