Dielectric and piezoelectric properties of neodymium oxide doped lead zirconate titanate ceramics

Abstract

The dielectric and electromechanical properties of lead zirconate titanate [Pb(Zr, Ti)O3] ceramic added with neodymium oxide have been systematically studied employing the vector impedance spectroscopic (VIS) technique. The specimens were prepared using the mixed oxide route by adding different mol% of Nd2O3 (0.1 to 7 mol%) in [Pb(Zr, Ti)O3] near morphotropic phase boundary. Piezoelectric equivalent circuit parameters R, L, Ca in series and Cb in parallel have been determined by simulating /Z/ and Θ plots. Electro-mechanical coupling coefficients and strain constants for the radial modes show a peak at about 3 mol %, the dielectric constant peaks at about 1 mol% and voltage constants peak at about 0.75 mol % of Nd2O3.