Effects of rare earth additive (Nd<inf>2</inf>O<inf>3</inf>) on microstructure and dielectric properties of lead zirconate titanate ceramics

Abstract

This paper presents work on studying the structure and physical properties of PZT ceramics at a morphotropic phase boundary composition (Zr : Ti=52 : 48) which has been modified with different quantities of neodymium oxide, Nd 2O3. Phase formation and microstructure development were examined by x-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) techniques, respectively. Dielectric properties were measured, and the relationship between properties and the amount of Nd-dopant is discussed. It has been found that in the Nd-doped samples, the highest value of dielectric constant occurred for the 0.5 wt.% sample, sintered at 1200 °C, and that the maximum d31 and kp values were obtained for the 0.5 wt.% Nd composition with values of 124 pC N-1 and 0.53, respectively. © 2007 The Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences.