Effect of Dy substitution on ferroelectric, optical and electro-optic properties of transparent Pb0.90La0.10(Zr0.65Ti0.35)O3 ceramics

Highly transparent Dy-codoped lead lanthanum zirconate titanate (PLZT) ceramics were sintered from oxide powders by the hot pressing method. The ceramics exhibited a transparency as high as 67% at 632.8 nm (close to the theoretical value). The effects of substituting Lanthanum by Dysprosium on the phase structure, microstructure, dielectric, ferroelectric, optical and electro-optic properties of PLZT were examined. The results showed that Dy substitution decreased the coercive field, improved the optical transmittance and electro-optic properties of PLZT ceramics. Moreover, the high half-wave voltage (affecting the working voltage of devices) of PLZT was reduced from 850 V to 510 V by Dy substitution. Modified PLDZT transparent ceramics are competitive candidate materials for modern optical communication, and the variable optical attenuator (VOA) based on PLDZT exhibited excellent performances.