Piezoelectric and Ferroelectric Properties of (1-x)Pb(Sc0.5Ta0.5)O3-xPb(Zr0.52Ti0.48)O3 Relaxor Ferroelectric Ceramics

(1-x)Pb(Sc_0.5Ta_0.5)O₃-xPb(Zr_0.52Ti_0.48)O₃ (PSTZT-100x) ceramics were prepared by using conventional oxide processing, and their piezoelectric and ferroelectric properties studied. The results of X-ray diffraction (XRD) suggest that PSTZT-100x ceramics formed a single-phase perovskite structure when 0.1lesxles0.8. The ceramics exhibit relatively good piezoelectric and ferroelectric properties: piezoelectric constant, d₃₃=117 pC/N; planar electromechanical coupling factor, k_p=45%, remnant polarization, P_r=14 muC/cm², coercive field, E_c=0.65 kV/mm. The morphotropic phase boundary (MPB) of PSTZT-100x maybe located at x=0.75 because of the maximum piezoelectric constant d₃₃ achieved at x=0.75. The pinched hysteresis loops were founded for PSTZT-100x ceramics when x>0.7, and it was suggested that the pinched ferroelectric loops due to the pinning effect of the dipolar defects formed in PSTZT-100x ceramics.