Dielectric, ferroelectric and piezoelectric properties of (1-x)(Bi0.5Na0.5)0.935Ba0.065Ti -x(LiSbO3) solid solutions

Compositions in the solid solution series (1-x)(Bi0.5Na0.5)0.935Ba0.065Ti-x(LiSbO3), (BNBT-LS) (x = 0, 0.01, 0.02, 0.03, 0.04) have been fabricated via solid state reaction route. Room temperature x-ray diffraction traces of all samples were found to reveal coexistence of the two structures; rhombohedral and tetragonal. The micrographs recorded from the Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscope, provided an overall dense and single phase microstructure for the systems. The dielectric anomalies corresponding to the maximum relative dielectric constant, εr, persistently broadened and shifted to low temperatures as a function of increase in LiSbO3 (LS) content. The ferroelectric P−E loops became steadily narrow with similar LS modification showing a continual decline in remnant polarization (Pr) and coercive field (Ec). These phenomena clearly indicated the onset of a growing relaxor-like behavior. The maximum normalized unipolar strain Smax/Emax=d33*=400pm/V under the field 50 kV/cm was recorded for the system with x = 0.02.