Enhanced relaxor ferroelectric behavior of BCZT lead-free ceramics prepared by hydrothermal method

Ceramics in the solid solution system, Ba0.9Ca0.1Ti0.9Zr0.1O3-xNd3+, were prepared via a hydrothermal method and were assisted by microwave sintering, and the effects of Nd3+-doping on the electrical properties of Ba0.9Ca0.1Ti0.9Zr0.1O3 were studied. All the samples showed single perovskite structure without a second phase, and a change from the rhombohedral phase to the coexistence of tetragonal and cubic phase occurred at x≥0.025. The dielectric constant and dielectric loss both decreased with increasing Nd3+ content at 0.000≤x≤0.015 and the sample with x=0.020 showed giant permittivity with higher dielectric loss. At x=0.025 and 0.030, the TC significantly decreased and the samples exhibited optimistic relaxor behavior with excellent frequency dispersion. The Pr decreased with increasing Nd3+ content and the samples with x=0.025 and 0.030 showed P-E loops with lower polarization loss. The piezoelectric constant (d33) measured at room temperature increased with increasing Nd3+ addition and exhibited the maximum value at x=0.025. The ferroelectric and piezoelectric properties could not be detected at samples with x=0.020.