Effects of dopants on the microstructure and properties of PZT ceramics

The effects of Pb(Y1/2Nb1/2)O3 (PYN) content on the microstructure and the electrical properties of Pb(Zr0.53Ti0.47)O3 (PZT) have been studied. A Pb-deficient polycrystalline phase and a Y–Zr–Ti-rich phase are observed in all the samples. They are minor phases and are only observed using transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The remanent polarization Pr value is found to increase with increasing amount of Pb(Y1/2Nb1/2)O3, and a highest value of 43.679 μC cm−2 is obtained for the sample doped with 1.5 mol% Pb(Y1/2Nb1/2)O3.