Dielectric and piezoelectric properties of Pb(Ni1/3Nb2/3)O3–PbTiO3–PbZrO3 ceramics modified with bismuth and zinc substitutions

The dielectric and piezoelectric properties of the (Pb_0.985Bi_0.01)(Ni_1/4Zn_1/12Nb_2/3)_x- (Zr_σTi_1-σ)_1-xO₃ piezoelectric ceramic system (0.2 ≤ x ≤ 0.7, 0.1 ≤ σ ≤ 0.9) were systematically investigated. The results showed that, after poling, the dielectric constant, ε ₃₃ ^T , increased for the tetragonal compositions but decreased for the rhombohedral compositions. Furthermore, high values of ε ₃₃ ^T and piezoelectric modulus, d ₃₁ were found for the compositions along the extension of the morphotropic phase boundary. The highest values of the planar electromechanical coupling factor, K _p, and the piezoelectric modulus, d ₃₁, were found to be 0.70 and − 274 × 10^-12 C N^-1, respectively. The Curie temperature, remanent polarization, coercive field and the lattice constants of the a and c axes in relation to the Pb(Ni_1/3Nb_2/3)O₃ content and the Zr/Zr + Ti ratio were also determined. This revised version was published online in November 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.