Structure characterization of BiFeO3–SrBi2Nb2O9 ceramics by mechanical activation

Ferroelectric ceramics of the system of xBiFeO3–(1−x)SrBi2Nb2O9 (SBFN) with x ranging from 0 to 0.3 were synthesized by sintering the mechanically activated mixed composition. The resulting SBFN consists of layered perovskite crystallites in the activated form. Sintered SBFN exhibits a single-phase layered perovskite structure without detectable secondary phase being present during crystallization. The processing temperature of SrBi2Nb2O9 (SBN) decreases with increasing content of BiFeO3, while the grain morphology changes from a lamellar structure in SBN to granular structure up to x=0.2–0.3.