Synthesis of high density sub-10 µm (Ba0.85Ca0.15)(Zr0.1Ti0.9)O3-xCeO2 lead-free ceramics using a two-step sintering technique

Abstract

(Ba0.85Ca0.15)(Zr0.1Ti0.9)O3-xCeO2, (BCZTCe) lead-free piezoelectric ceramics were processed conventionally using a two-step sintering technique. The results suggest that two-step sintering is an effective technique to acquire a high density (99%) homogeneous microstructure with sub-10 μm grain size. The low CeO2 content (0.07 wt.%) facilitates good functional properties at low sintering conditions of T1 = 1400°C/30 min & T2 = 1275°C/4 h, in which d33 = 353 ± 7 pC/N, kp= 40%, εr= 3393 ± 100, tan δ =0.039, TC = 96.5ºC, Pr = 11.45 μC/cm2, EC = 2.32 kV/cm and a large strain of 0.18%. These results indicate that BCZTCe ceramics are a promising lead-free piezoelectric substitute for room temperature device applications.