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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