Effect of nano ZnO addition on microstructure and dielectric properties of PB (Zn1/3Nb2/3) O3-PbTiO3-BaTiO3 (PZN-PT-BT) relaxor ferroelectric

In this Letter, the effects of nano ZnO addition as a sintering aid on a microstructure, and dielectric and ferroelectric properties of a Pb (Zn_1/3Nb_2/3) O₃-PbTiO₃-BaTiO₃ (PZN-PT-BT) relaxor ferroelectric ceramics around the morphotropic phase boundary were investigated. As-prepared (unannealed) and annealed ceramics were synthesised via the conventional mixed oxide method. Experimental results show that nano ZnO addition alters the microstructure by increasing the average grain size at lower sintering temperature, which reduces the loss of volatile PbO and improves dielectric properties. The general trend seems to indicate that annealed ceramics with 1.5- mole- nano ZnO have high dielectric permittivity (up to 4670) and in these samples T_m (the temperature of dielectric maximum) shift to higher temperatures (≃201≃C).