Structural and electrical studies of CeO2 modified lead zirconate titanate ceramics

The present study is an investigation of the structural and electrical properties of solid solution processed lead zirconate titanate (PZT) ceramics modified by CeO₂. The PZT composition studied is Pb(Zr_0.535Ti_0.465)O₃ modified with 0.0–0.2 mol % CeO₂. Studies of the loss of lead oxide during sintering have been performed. The lead loss increases with increasing Ce in the sample up to 0.1 mol % Ce and becomes nearly constant on further addition of Ce. The lattice parameters and cell volume of the tetragonal phase of PZT also increase with addition of Ce up to 0.1 mol % Ce. The lead loss and X-ray data indicate that Ce is being reduced to Ce³⁺ and is going onto the A-site of the PZT perovskite system. The study concludes that controlled modification of the MPB composition of PZT using 0.1 mol % CeO₂ results in substantial enhancement of piezoelectric strain coefficients, dielectric constant and electromechanical coupling coefficients.