Effects of doping Eu2O3 on the phase transformation and piezoelectric properties of Na0.5Bi0.5TiO3-based ceramics

(Na0.5Bi0.5)(1−1.5x)EuxTiO3 ceramics have been prepared by solid state reaction at 1120 °C for 2 h. Scanning electronic micrograph results indicate that the doped Eu2O3 can prohibit the grain growth. With increasing the doped amount of Eu2O3, the phase transformation (rhombohedral→cubic) can be observed in the X-ray diffraction patterns, and correlated with a strong decrease in the piezoelectric properties d33. The dielectric constants of poled and unpoled Na0.5Bi0.5TiO3 (NBT)-0 samples vary greatly as compared to NBT-5 sample due to the change of crystal structure.