Synthesis and electrical properties of lead-free piezo electrics for magnetoelectric applications

Abstract

The Lead-free piezoelectric polycrystalline materials, BaTiO3 (BTO) and Ba0.85Ca0.15Zr0.1Ti0.9O3 (BCZT) ceramic are prepared by sol-gel synthesis method. The synthesis dynamics and the effect of sintering temperature on the purity and the formation of morphotropic phase boundaries in these samples are investigated. X-ray Diffraction studies show the cubic phase for the BTO at low temperature, whereas it transforms into the tetragonal for higherature synthesis. The BCZT exists in the mixed phases of tetragonal and orthorhombic structures. Formation of MPBs in BCZT are observed for the sintering temperature above 1350 °C. Polarization (P) versus electric field (E) measurement shows enhanced polarization values for the BCZT in comparison to the BTO.