Phase transition of SrTiO3–PbZrO3 solid solutions

Dielectric properties of (1−x) SrTiO3−x PbZrO3 (0.5⩽ x ⩽1) ceramic solid solutions were studied at frequencies between 10 and 105 Hz in a wide temperature range. Polarization loop measurements were used to identify antiferroelectric (AFE) and ferroelectric (FE) states. A crossover from the antiferroelectric to the relaxor ferroelectric state was observed. The dielectric relaxation spectra were found to be very broad without any peaks . The results can be understood in terms of possible AFE–FE phase frustration and local random fields, induced by a random distribution of the ions of different size and polarizability.