Sol–gel processing and dielectric properties of (Pb1−yLay)(Zr0.52Ti0.48)O3 ceramics

Pb1−yLay)(Zr0.52Ti0.48)O3 (PLZTy) powders were prepared using sol–gel process and their structural and dielectric properties were investigated. Increasing La content is shown to transform the average symmetry to a tetragonal one in the calcined ones and to lower the temperature of the maximum of the dielectric constant. One anomaly is observed on the real part of the permittivity on the sample with y=0.05; this anomaly located at about 180 °C was interpreted as a transition from ferroelectric-rhombohedral phase to ferroelectric-quadratic phase.