Enhanced pyroelectric performance in potassium sodium niobate-based ceramics via multisymmetries coexistence design

Achieving excellent pyroelectric performance remains a challenge for lead-free piezoelectric ceramics. To meet the requirements of both an enhanced pyroelectric coefficient at room temperature and good thermal stability during the encapsulation of pyroelectric devices, (1–x)K_0.48Na_0.52NbO₃–xBi_0.5Ag_0.5ZrO₃–0.2%Fe₂O₃ (KNN–BAZ–Fe) lead-free ferroelectric ceramics with high Curie temperatures were prepared to obtain improved pyroelectric performance via the coexistence of multiple symmetries. The variation of BAZ content led to the formation of rhombohedral–orthorhombic–tetragonal phase boundary and promoted grain growth, resulting in the best pyroelectric coefficient (p = 5.09 × 10⁻⁴ C m⁻²°C⁻¹) and enhanced figures of merit (F_i = 0.2084 × 10⁻⁹ (m V⁻¹), F_v = 0.0142 m² C⁻¹, F_d = 0.0947 × 10⁻⁴ Pa^−1/2, and F_e = 17.66 J m⁻³ K⁻²) for infrared (IR) detection when x = 0.05. The room-temperature pyroelectric coefficient obtained in this study is approximately four times that of the pure KNN ceramic and is the maximum value reported for niobate-based piezoelectric ceramics. Moreover, compared with the poor thermal stability of barium titanate- and bismuth sodium titanate-based ceramics because of their ultralow Curie temperature or thermal depolarization temperature, the ceramics investigated here exhibit much better thermal stability because of their high Curie temperature (T_C > 300°C) and diffused phase-transition behavior, making them more adaptable for practical applications. These results suggest that KNN–xBAZ–Fe ceramics are attractive candidates for applications in the field of IR sensors.     

High pyroelectric response in Pb0.99Nb0.02[(Zr0.57Sn0.43)1−xTix]0.98O3 ceramics

Both high pyroelectric coefficient and figure of merits of ferroelectric materials are desirable for infrared detection. In this work, we prepared Pb_0.99Nb_0.02[(Zr_0.57Sn_0.43)_1−xTi_x]_0.98O₃ (0.060 ≤ x ≤ 0.080) ceramics, and the microstructure and electric properties were studied systematically. It is observed that the composition x = 0.07 shows enhanced pyroelectric properties around ambient temperature due to the ferroelectric–antiferroelectric phase transition, with the pyroelectric coefficient p = 6.83 × 10⁻⁴ C m⁻² K⁻¹ and the figures of merit F_i = 5.04 × 10⁻¹⁰ m V⁻¹, F_v = 7.61 × 10⁻² m² C⁻¹, and F_d = 3.46 × 10⁻⁵ Pa^−1/2 at room temperature and the highest pyroelectric coefficient of 695.5 × 10⁻⁴ C m⁻² K⁻¹ and F_i = 1410.46 × 10⁻¹⁰ m V⁻¹, F_v = 1587.39 × 10⁻² m² C⁻¹, and F_d = 1182.94 × 10⁻⁵ Pa^−1/2 at 36.7°C. These values are superior to other pyroelectric materials. These results indicate that this system is a promising pyroelectric material for the applications of infrared detectors.     

Large pyroelectricity via engineered ferroelectric-relaxor phase boundary

With growing demand for high-sensitivity infrared detectors in industrial temperature monitoring and medical systems, high-performance pyroelectric materials are vitally required. In this work, large pyroelectric performance is achieved in (1 − x)Pb_0.99Nb_0.02[(Zr_0.57Sn_0.43)_0.937Ti_0.063]_0.98O₃–xBaTiO₃ (1 − x)PNZST–xBT ceramics by tuning the ferroelectric (FE)-relaxor phase boundary near room temperature. The FE- and ergodic-relaxor phase boundaries are engineered by breaking the long-range antiferroelectric order with the introduction of BaTiO₃. It is found that the ceramics with x = 0.15 exhibit a large pyroelectric coefficient of 11.3 × 10^–4 C m^–2 K^–1 and figures of merit of F_i = 20.1 × 10^–10 m V^–1, F_v = 3.44 × 10^–2 m² C^–1, and F_d = 3.87 × 10^–5 Pa^–1/2 around room temperature due to engineered phase boundary. Our results provide the potential technological application for ultrasensitive infrared detector and scientific insights into pyroelectric ceramic design.     

High pyroelectric performance in Pb0.99Nb0.02[(Zr0.57Sn0.43)0.94Ti0.06]0.98O3/Al2O3 composites by design

High pyroelectric performance around human body temperature is essential for ultra-sensitive infrared detectors of medical systems. Herein, toward human health monitoring, composite ceramics (1-x)Pb_0.99Nb_0.02[(Zr_0.57Sn_0.43)_0.94Ti_0.06]_0.98O₃/xAl₂O₃ (x = 0, 0.1, and 0.2) were designed. A metastable ferroelectric (FE) phase was induced in the anti-FE matrix by the Al₂O₃ component-induced internal stress, and in turn FE-anti-FE phase boundary was constructed. The ceramics at x = 0.2 exhibit high pyroelectric coefficient with p = 10.9 × 10⁻⁴ C·m⁻²·K⁻¹ and figures of merit with current responsivity F_i = 6.23 × 10⁻¹⁰ m·V⁻¹, voltage responsivity F_v = 12.71 × 10⁻² m²·C⁻¹, and detectivity F_d = 7.03 × 10⁻⁵ Pa^−1/2 around human body temperature. Moreover, the enhanced pyroelectric coefficients exist in a broad operation temperature range with a large full width at half maximums of 18.5°C and peak value of 29.2 × 10⁻⁴ C·m⁻²·K⁻¹ at 48.2°C. The designed composite ceramic is a promising candidate for infrared thermal imaging technology of noncontact human health monitoring system.     

Enhanced pyroelectric properties in (Bi0.5Na0.5)TiO3–BiAlO3–NaNbO3 ternary system lead‐free ceramics

High pyroelectric performance and good thermal stability of pyroelectric materials are desirable for the application of infrared thermal detectors. In this work, enhanced pyroelectric properties were achieved in a new ternary (1?x)(0.98(Bi_0.5Na_0.5)(Ti_0.995Mn_0.005)O₃–0.02BiAlO₃)–xNaNbO₃ (BNT–BA–xNN) lead‐free ceramics. The effect of NN addition on the microstructure, phase transition, ferroelectric, and pyroelectric properties of BNT–BA–xNN ceramics were investigated. It was found that the average grain size decreased as x increased to 0.03, whereas increased with further NN addition. The pyroelectric coefficient p at room temperature (RT) was significantly increased from 3.87 × 10^?8Ccm^?2K^?1 at x = 0 to 8.45 × 10^?8Ccm^?2K^?1 at x = 0.03. The figures of merit (FOMs), F_i, F_v and F_d, were also enhanced with addition of NN. Because of high p (7.48 × 10^?8Ccm^?2K^?1) as well as relatively low dielectric permittivity (~370) and low dielectric loss (~0.011), the optimal FOMs at RT were obtained at x = 0.02 with F_i = 2.66 × 10^?10 m/V, F_v = 8.07 × 10^?2 m²/C, and F_d = 4.22 × 10^?5 Pa^?1/2, which are superior to other reported lead‐free ceramics. Furthermore, the compositions with x ≤ 0.03 exhibited excellent temperature stability in a wide temperature range from 20 to 80°C because of high depolarization temperature (≥110°C). Those results unveil the potential of BNT–BA–xNN ceramics for infrared detector applications.     

Potentiality of Bi and Mn co-doped lead-free NaNbO3 ceramics as a pyroelectric material for uncooled infrared thermal detectors

The pyroelectric materials have immense applications in the uncooled infrared thermal detectors. However, owing to increasing environmental concerns due to Pb element, it is required to explore novel, high-performance, environmental-friendly pyroelectric materials. This is the first study to report about the pyroelectric properties of lead-free NaNbO₃ ceramics, which displayed a high pyroelectric coefficient of 1.85 × 10^?8 C cm^-2 K^?1 and figures of merit as F_i = 0.67 × 10^?10 m V^?1, F_v = 3.33 × 10^?2 m² C^?1, and F_d = 5.32 × 10^-5 Pa^?1/2 at room temperature. Also, highly temperature-stable pyroelectric characteristics were also observed in NaNbO₃ ceramics due to the high depolarization temperature of 280 ℃. The high pyroelectric properties and temperature stability were a result of the electric field induced irreversible phase transition from antiferroelectric to ferroelectric. Hence, we can conclude that lead-free NaNbO₃ ceramics are a novel and promising candidate for pyroelectric detectors in a wide temperature range, especially for large area detectors and pyroelectric point detector.     

Achieving single domain in rhombohedral and tetragonal Mn-doped Pb(In1/2Nb1/2)-Pb(Mg1/3Nb2/3)-PbTiO3 crystals for infrared detecting applications

The [111]-oriented rhombohedral Mn-doped 0.15Pb(In_1/2Nb_1/2)-0.55Pb(Mg_1/3Nb_2/3)O₃-0.30PbTiO₃ (Mn:PIMNT(15/55/30)) crystal and the [001]-oriented tetragonal Mn-doped 0.29Pb(In_1/2Nb_1/2)-0.29Pb(Mg_1/3Nb_2/3)O₃-0.42PbTiO₃ (Mn:PIMNT(29/29/42)) crystal were poled under different conditions. The pyroelectric performance of the two crystals as a function of poling temperature, as well as the relationship with ferroelectric domain configuration and phase structure was investigated systematically. The pyroelectric properties of the two crystals enhance with rising the poling temperature, which can be attributed to the improvement of the single state. And for the rhombohedral Mn:PIMNT(15/55/30) crystal locating near morphotropic phase boundary (MPB), the increase of tetragonal phase induces the deterioration of pyroelectric properties. Due to more residual tetragonal phase, the pyroelectric coefficient of the Mn:PIMNT(15/55/30) crystal poled at 150°C is lower than that poled at 100°C. In general, both the crystals poled above T_C achieve nearly single state, exhibiting the best pyroelectric properties with relatively high Curie temperature (T_C), where P = 9.71 × 10⁻⁴ C m⁻² K⁻¹, F_i = 3.88 × 10⁻¹⁰ m V⁻¹, F_v = 0.068 m² C⁻¹ and F_d = 29.7 × 10⁻⁵ Pa^−1/2 for the rhombohedral Mn:PIMNT(15/55/30) crystal (T_C = 171°C) and P = 6.78 × 10⁻⁴ C m⁻² K⁻¹, F_i = 2.71 ×10⁻¹⁰ mV⁻¹, F_v = 0.1 m² C⁻¹, F_d = 23.54 × 10⁻⁵ Pa^−1/2 for the tetragonal Mn:PIMNT(29/29/42) single crystal (T_C = 251°C), meeting the stable operation of infrared detector at relatively high environmental temperatures.     

Enhanced pyroelectric properties of lead-free BNT-BA-KNN ceramics for thermal energy harvesting

In this work, (1−x)(0.98Bi_0.5Na_0.5TiO₃-0.02BiAlO₃)-x(Na_0.5K_0.5)NbO₃ (BNT-BA-xKNN) lead-free pyroelectric ceramics were prepared by a solid-state reaction method. The effect of Na_0.5K_0.5NbO₃ (KNN) content on microstructure, phase transition, and electrical properties of the BNT-BA-xKNN ceramics were systematically investigated. The results show that the appropriate content of KNN can induce the formation of the tetragonal structure, which results in the decreased ferroelectric-antiferroelectric phase transition temperature as a result of the break of long-range translational symmetry of BNT lattices. Therefore, the ferroelectric and pyroelectric properties of the BNT-BA-xKNN near room temperature are improved. The room-temperature pyroelectric coefficient significantly increases from 3.66 × 10⁻⁴ C/m²/K at x = 0 to 8.04 × 10⁻⁴ C/m²/K at x = 0.02, making a great contribution to the superior pyroelectric energy harvesting. The output energy density in one cycle of the BNT-BA-0.02KNN is 23.32 μJ/cm³, which is twice as high as that of the pristine samples. The enhancement of material properties suggests that the pyroelectric energy harvesting can be efficiently optimized by the adequate control of the phase structure.     

Enhancement of pyroelectric properties of lead-free 0.94Na0.5Bi0.5TiO3-0.06BaTiO3 ceramics by La doping

Lead-free 0.94NBT-0.06BT-xLa ceramics at x = 0.0–1.0 (%) were synthesized by a conventional solid-state route. XRD shows that the compositions are at a morphotropic phase boundary where rhombohedral and tetragonal phases coexist. With increasing La³⁺ content pyroelectric coefficient (p) and figures of merits greatly increase; however, the depolarization temperature (T_d) decreases. p is 7.24 × 10⁻⁴C m⁻² °C⁻¹ at RT at x = 0.5% and 105.4 × 10⁻⁴C.m^−2 °C⁻¹ at T_d at x = 0.2%. F_i and F_v show improvements at RT from 1.12 (x = 0%) to 2.65 (x10 ⁻¹⁰ m v⁻¹) (x = 0.5%) and from 0.021 to 0.048 (m².C⁻¹) respectively. F_i and F_v show a huge increase to 37.6 × 10⁻¹⁰ m v⁻¹ and 0.56 m² C⁻¹ respectively at T_d at x = 0.2%. F_C shows values of 2.10, 2.89, and 2.98 (x10⁻⁹C cm⁻² °C⁻¹) at RT at 33, 100 and 1000 (Hz) respectively. Giant pyroelectric properties make NBT-0.06BT-xLa at x = 0.2% and 0.5% promising materials for many pyroelectric applications.     

Electrocaloric effect and pyroelectric performance in (K,Na)NbO3-based lead-free ceramics

The issue of how to achieve an electrocaloric effect (ECE) and pyroelectric effect in a material simultaneously remains to be a challenge for developing practical solid-state cooling devices and RF-detectors. Here, we structure a polymorphic phase transition (PPT) region by doping modification in KNN-based ceramics, which are developed to achieve the ECE. The direct measured ECE and pyroelectric properties are investigated in lead-free (1-x)K_0.5Na_0.5NbO₃-xBi_0.5Na_0.5ZrO₃ (KNN-xBNZ) ceramics. The adiabatic temperature change (∆T) of 0.22 K at 100°C, 0.14 K at 70°C and 0.16 K at 30°C can be obtained under an electric field of 35 kV cm^–1 for x = 0.03, 0.04 and 0.05, respectively. In addition, the temperature dependence of pyroelectric coefficient (p) is established for all compositions via the Byer-Roundy method. A large p of 454.46 × 10^–4 C m^–2 K^–1 is detected at Curie temperature (T_C) in the ceramics with x = 0.03. Achieving electrocaloric effect and pyroelectric performance simultaneously may shed light and provide a feasible design scheme for developing practically useful electrocaloric and pyroelectric materials.     

The decrease of depolarization temperature and the improvement of pyroelectric properties by doping Ta in lead-free 0.94Na0.5Bi0.5TiO3-0.06BaTiO3 ceramics

Ta-doped lead-free 0.94NBT-0.06BT-xTa (x=0.0–1.0%) ceramics were synthesized by a conventional solid-state route. XRD shows that the compositions are at a morphotropic phase boundary where rhombohedral and tetragonal phases coexist. The depolarization temperature (T_d) shifted to lower temperature with the increase of Ta content. The pyroelectric coefficient (p) of doped ceramics greatly enhanced compared with undoped material and reached a maximum of 7.14×10⁻⁴ C m⁻² °C⁻¹ at room temperature (RT) and 146.1×10⁻⁴ C m⁻² °C⁻¹ at T_d at x=0.2%. The figure of merits, F_i and F_v, also showed a great improvement from 1.12×10⁻¹⁰ m v⁻¹ and 0.021 m² C⁻¹ at x=0.0 to 2.55×10⁻¹⁰ m v⁻¹ and 0.033 m² C⁻¹ at x=0.2% at RT. Furthermore, F_i and F_v show the huge improvement to 52.2×10⁻¹⁰ m v⁻¹ and 0.48×10⁻¹⁰ m v⁻¹ respectively at T_d at x=0.2%. F_C shows a value between 2.26 and 2.42 ×10⁻⁹ C cm⁻² °C⁻¹ at RT at x=0.2%. The improved pyroelectric properties make NBT-0.06BT-0.002Ta ceramics a promising infrared detector material.     

Mn doping effects on electric properties of 0.93(Bi0.5Na0.5)TiO3‐0.07Ba(Ti0.945Zr0.055)O3 ceramics

The validity of Mn element on 0.93(Bi_0.5Na_0.5)TiO₃‐0.07Ba(Ti_0.945Zr_0.055)O₃ ceramics (BNT‐BZT‐xMn) is certified by doping. On account of multiple effects introduced by Mn, the appropriate Mn content facilitates property improvement effectively. Compared with pure BNT‐BZT, d₃₃ of the component x = 0.25 increases about 8% up to 187 pC/N and Q_m of the component x = 1 increases about 84% up to 197. Thermally stimulated depolarization currents (TSDC) measurement reveals Mn additive is helpful to pyroelectric properties as well. The Mn‐doped component x = 0.125 exhibits better pyroelectric performance at room temperature. Corresponding pyroelectric coefficient and the figures of merit reach up to 0.061 μC/(cm² °C), F_i=217 pm/V, F_ν = 0.023 m²/C, and F_d = 12.6 μPa^?1/2, respectively, even superior to lead‐based ceramics. Similar pyroelectric advantage is also observed in the component x = 0.5 near depolarization temperature T_d. Mn doping has slight harmful influence on the ferroelectric‐to‐relaxor transition temperature T_F?R, as well as T_d, but hardly shows restriction on application. These results confirm Mn doping is an available strategy to improve BNT‐based ceramics. Therefore, Mn‐doped BNT‐BZT ceramics will be excellent candidates in area of high‐power piezoelectric application and pyroelectric detectors.     

Structures and pyroelectric properties for [111]-oriented Mn-doped rhombohedral 0.36PIN-0.36PMN-0.28PT crystal

The crystal structures, pyroelectric properties, and thermal stability of [111]-oriented 0.5 mol% Mn-doped 0.36Pb(In_1/2Nb_1/2)O₃-0.36Pb(Mg_1/3Nb_2/3)O₃-0.28PbTiO₃ (Mn-0.36PIN-0.36PMN-0.28PT) ternary single crystal were investigated. The temperature dependence of the Raman spectra and dielectric properties revealed that the crystal exhibited a rhombohedral (R) structure at room temperature, and ferroelectric R → tetragonal (T) and ferroelectric T to paraelectric cubic (C) phase transitions at 130 and 175°C respectively. The single crystal had a high remnant polarization of P_r = 38 μC cm^–2 and coercive field of E_C = 12 kV cm^–1 at room temperature and a frequency of f = 100 Hz. The values of P_r and E_C decreased with increasing temperature, exhibiting anomalies near their phase-transition temperatures, which coincided with changes in the Raman spectra and dielectric properties. Furthermore, at 25°C and f = 100 Hz, the single crystal had high pyroelectric coefficients of p = 8.7 × 10⁻⁴ C m⁻² K⁻¹, figures of merit for the current responsivity of F_i = 3.5 × 10⁻¹⁰ m V⁻¹, the voltage responsivity of F_v = 0.08 m² C⁻¹, and the detectivity of F_d = 30.1 × 10⁻⁵ Pa^−1/2. These values were weakly dependent on temperature below 120°C. In addition, the room-temperature pyroelectric coefficients of the ternary single crystal maintain over 83% of the original value at thermal annealing temperatures below 120°C. These outstanding pyroelectric properties, together with high thermal stability, indicate that [111]-oriented rhombohedral Mn-0.36PIN-0.36PMN-0.28PT ternary single crystal is a new potential candidate for infrared detection applications.     

Electrocaloric behavior and piezoelectric effect in relaxor NaNbO3-based ceramics

We firstly reported the electrocaloric properties in relaxor (1−x−y)NaNbO₃–yBaTiO₃–xCaZrO₃ ceramics, and high electrocaloric effect (∆T ~0.451 K and∣∆T/∆E∣~0.282 Km/MV) can be realized in the ceramics (x = 0.04 and y = 0.10) under low temperature and low electric field. Relaxor behavior of NaNbO₃ ceramics can be found by doping both BaTiO₃ and CaZrO₃. In addition, optimized piezoelectric effects (d₃₃ ~235 pC/N and d₃₃* ~230 pm/V) can be observed in the ceramics (x = 0.04 and y = 0.10) due to the involved morphotropic phase boundary (MPB). Excellent piezoelectric effect (ie, d₃₃~330 pm/V at 41°C, and d₃₃*~332 pm/V at 60°C) can be found because of the characteristics of MPB. Good temperature reliability of piezoelectric effect can be shown because of both MPB and relaxor behavior. We believe that the ceramics with high electrocaloric effect and good piezoelectric effect can be considered as one of the most promising lead-free materials for piezoelectric devices.     

Achieving large piezoelectric response and ultrahigh electrostriction in [001] textured BiScO3-PbTiO3 high-temperature piezoelectric ceramics

[001] textured 0.40BiScO₃-0.60PbTiO₃-0.125 mol%Nb⁵⁺ (BS-60PT-0.125Nb) high-temperature piezoelectric ceramics were synthesized using templated grain growth process. A high texture degree F₀₀₁ of 99% was obtained using 2 vol% BaTiO₃ (BT) templates. The piezoelectric charge constant d₃₃ and the unipolar strain under 40 kV cm⁻¹ at room temperature for the textured ceramics are 646 pC N⁻¹ and 0.36%, respectively, which is over two times as those for untextured ceramics (∼243 pC N⁻¹ and 0.17%). The electrostriction Q₃₃ value of the textured sample remarkably increased from 0.034 m⁴ C⁻² to 0.068 m⁴ C⁻² under 30 kV cm⁻¹, showing a twice higher than untextured. Compared with random ceramics, the improvement piezoelectric response of the textured ceramics is primarily attributed to the increase of the dielectric constant ε_r and electrostriction coefficient Q₃₃ along [001] orientation, which is originating from the anisotropy of piezoelectricity. The BS-60PT-0.125Nb textured ceramics have large piezoelectric response and ultrahigh electrostriction with high temperature stability (high depolarization temperature T_d of ∼360°C and high Curie temperature T_c of 421°C), showing great potential for the piezoelectric applications at high temperatures.     

Effect of Nd-doping on structural,thermal and electrochemical properties of LaFe0.5Cr0.5O3 perovskites

The structural, thermal and electrochemical properties of the perovskite-type compound La_1−xNd_xFe_0.5Cr_0.5O₃ (x=0.10, 0.15, 0.20) are investigated by X-ray diffraction, thermal expansion, thermal diffusion, thermal conductivity and impedance spectroscopy measurements. Rietveld refinement shows that the compounds crystallize with orthorhombic symmetry in the space group Pbnm. The average thermal expansion coefficient decreases as the content of Nd increases. The average coefficient of thermal expansion in the temperature range of 30–850 °C is 10.12×10⁻⁶, 9.48×10⁻⁶ and 7.51×10⁻⁶ °C⁻¹ for samples with x=0.1, 0.15 and 0.2, respectively. Thermogravimetric analyses show small weight gain at high temperatures which correspond to filling up of oxygen vacancies as well as the valence change of the transition metals. The electrical conductivity measured by four-probe method shows that the conductivity increases with the content of Nd; the electrical conductivity at 520 °C is about 4.71×10⁻³, 6.59×10⁻³ and 9.62×10⁻³ S cm⁻¹ for samples with x=0.10, 0.15 and 0.20, respectively. The thermal diffusivity of the samples decreases monotonically as temperature increases. At 600 °C, the thermal diffusivity is 0.00425, 0.00455 and 0.00485 cm² s⁻¹ for samples with x=0.10, 0.15 and 0.20, respectively. Impedance measurements in symmetrical cell arrangement in air reveal that the polarization resistance decreases from 55 Ω cm⁻² to 22.5 Ω cm⁻² for increasing temperature from 800 °C to 900 °C, respectively.     

Induced anisotropic behavior and enhanced electrical properties on hot-pressed strontium barium niobate ceramics

Sr_0.30Ba_0.70Nb₂O₆ (SBN30) ferroelectric ceramics were fabricated by conventional sintering (CS) and by hot-pressing sintering (HP) and their crystal structure, microstructure, dielectric, ferroelectric and pyroelectric properties were studied and compared. Preferred orientation of the HP ceramics was detected through X-ray diffraction. Dense microstructure virtually free of pores has been achieved in HP samples. Moreover, the HP samples manifested prominent anisotropy in electrical properties. Besides, the relative permittivity (ε_r), saturated polarization (P_s), pyroelectric coefficient (p) in the direction perpendicular to the pressing axis were much higher than those of the randomly oriented CS samples. The HP samples sintered under 200 MPa show excellent pyroelectric properties in the direction perpendicular to the pressing axis, with pyroelectric coefficient of 2.38×10⁻⁸C/cm²K and pyroelectric figure of merit of F_i=1.13 pm/V, F_v=1.89 m²/C and F_d=0.63 μPa^−1/2,which roughly triple the values obtained in CS samples. These results indicate that hot-pressing is a viable option for accessing single-crystal-like anisotropy as well as enhanced electrical properties in polycrystalline ceramics, thus unveiling the distinctive potential of HP SBN30 ceramics for infrared detector applications.     

Enhanced insulation and piezoelectric properties of 0.57(Bi0.8La0.2)FeO3-0.43PbTiO3 solid solutions with Fe addition

0.57(Bi_0.8La_0.2)FeO₃-0.43PbTiO₃-x mol%Fe₂O₃ ceramics (BLF-PT-xFe, x = 0, 0.025, 0.05, 0.125, and 0.25) were prepared by the conventional solid-state reaction method. X-ray diffraction (XRD) reveals that all samples display the perovskite structure with a coexistence of tetragonal (T) phase and rhombohedral (R) phase, while the incorporation of Fe promotes the phase transition from T to R. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) images show that all samples are well crystallized and their grain size increases noticeably with the increase of Fe content. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) results indicate that Fe doping significantly inhibits the formation of oxygen vacancies, thereby improving insulation of BLF-PT-xFe ceramics. Interestingly, the Curie temperature of BLF-PT-xFe is around 330°C, little changing with the variation of Fe content. However, the depolarization temperatures of BLF-PT ceramics with Fe are 50°C higher than that of the sample without Fe doping. The hopping of second ionized oxygen vacancies are the major carriers in the temperature range of 200°C–500°C. The optimal component of BLF-PT-xFe ceramics appear at x = 0.05, where the dielectric loss tanδ, AC resistivity (200°C), and piezoelectric coefficient d₃₃ could be 0.015, 7 × 10⁶ Ω cm, and 245 pC/N, respectively. All these results indicate that the Fe addition is an effective method to enhance dielectric and piezoelectric properties.     

Microstructure,Ferroelectric, Piezoelectric,and Ferromagnetic Properties of Sc‐Modified BiFeO3–BaTiO3 Multiferroic Ceramics with MnO2 Addition

0.725BiFe_1?xSc_xO₃–0.275BaTiO₃ + y mol% MnO₂ multiferroic ceramics were fabricated by a conventional ceramic technique and the effects of Sc doping and sintering temperature on microstructure, multiferroic, and piezoelectric properties of the ceramics were studied. The ceramics can be well sintered at the wide low sintering temperature range 930°C–990°C and possess a pure perovskite structure. The ceramics with x/y = 0.01–0.02/1.0 sintered at 960°C possess high resistivity (~2 × 10⁹ Ω·cm), strong ferroelectricity (P_r = 19.1–20.4 μm/cm²), good piezoelectric properties (d₃₃ = 127–128 pC/N, k_p = 36.6%–36.9%), and very high Curie temperature (618°C–636°C). The increase in sintering temperature improves the densification, electric insulation, ferroelectric, and piezoelectric properties of the ceramics. A small amount of Sc doping (x ≤ 0.04) and the increase in the sintering temperature significantly enhance the ferromagnetic properties of the ceramics. Improved ferromagnetism with remnant magnetization M_r of 0.059 and 0.10 emu/g and coercive field H_c of 2.51 and 2.76 kOe are obtained in the ceramics with x/y = 0.04/1.0 (sintered at 960°C) and 0.02/1.0 (sintered at 1050°C), respectively. Because of the high T_C (636°C), the ceramic with x/y = 0.02/1.0 shows good temperature stability of piezoelectric properties. Our results also show that the addition of MnO₂ is essential to obtain the ceramics with good electrical properties and electric insulation.     

Remarkably High‐Temperature Stability of Bi(Fe1−xAlx)O3–BaTiO3 Solid Solution with Near‐Zero Temperature Coefficient of Piezoelectric Properties

The 0.72Bi(Fe_1?xAl_x)O₃–0.28BaTiO₃ (x = 0, 0.01, 0.03, 0.05, and 0.07, abbreviated as BFAx–BT) lead‐free high‐temperature ceramics were prepared by the conventional ceramic processing. Systematic investigation on the microstructures, crystalline structures, dielectric and piezoelectric properties, and high‐temperature stability of piezoelectric properties was carried out. The crystalline structures of BFAx–BT ceramics evolve from rhombohedral structure with x < 0.01 to the coexistence of rhombohedral structure and pseudocubic phases with x ≈ 0.01, finally to pseudocubic phases when x > 0.03. Remarkably high‐temperature stability with near‐zero temperature coefficient of piezoelectric properties (TCk_p), together with improved piezoelectric properties has been achieved for x = 0.01 BFAx–BT ceramics. The BFAx–BT(x = 0.01) ceramics simultaneously show the excellent piezoelectric properties of d₃₃ = 151 pC/N, k_p = 0.31 and super‐high‐temperature stability of T_d = 420°C, TCk_p = 1 × 10^?4. It is considered that the observed strong piezoelectricity and remarkably high‐temperature stability should be ascribed to the phase coexistence of rhombohedral and pseudocubic phases. The rhombohedral phases have a positive TCk_p value and the pseudocubic phases possess a negative TCk_p value. Thus, the TCk_p value of BFAx–BT ceramics can be tuned by composition of x.