Phase transition and ferroelectric properties of xBiFeO3–(1−x)BaTiO3 ceramics

The mutiferroic xBiFeO3–(1−x)BaTiO3 (BFO–BT: x = 1.0, 0.9, 0.8, and 0.7) ceramics have been synthesized by the solid-state-reaction method with density higher than 90% of the theoretical value. Structural transition of BFO–BT ceramics were investigated by using in-situ high-resolution synchrotron X-ray diffraction upon heating. The Curie temperature (TC) shifts toward lower temperature as BT content increases. This work suggests that the BT-substitution can enhance the dielectric response (or permittivity) at room temperature and also decreases the dielectric loss. The highest polarization attainable was improved from ∼0.01 μC/cm2 in BFO to ∼1.8 μC/cm2 in BFO-30%BT.