A study on Electrostrictive Properties of Ba²⁺, Bi³⁺, Eu³⁺ Doped PLZT (9/65/35) Transparent Ceramics

Lead lanthanum zirconate titanate (PLZT 9/65/35) transparent ceramics, which modified with Ba²⁺, Bi³⁺, Eu³⁺ respectively, were prepared by hot-press sintering method. The phase structure, microstructure, ferroelectric, dielectric and electrostrictive properties of all the samples were examined and analysed. All of the ceramics show a pure perovskite phase and dense microstructure by the X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscope (SEM). Compared with undoped PLZT ceramics, the peak of the temperature-dependent of the dielectric constant curves with Ba²⁺ doped shift slightly to low temperature, meanwhile the Bi³⁺ and Eu³⁺ peak of the temperature-dependent dielectric constant curves decreases and broadens, which imply the relaxation of the as doped PLZT lattice. The hysteresis loops of Ba²⁺, Bi³⁺, Eu³⁺ doped PLZT show that a lower remanent polarization and coercive field. The field-induced strain hysteresis loops of all the sample were measured. The electrostrictive strain and hysteresis of Ba²⁺ and Eu³⁺ doped PLZT decrease monotonically. However, the electrostrictive strain of Bi3+ doped PLZT is increased. The experimental result implies that the A-site vacancies are induced by Ba²⁺, Bi³⁺ and Eu³⁺, which is in accordance with previous investigations. The strain curves of transparent materials exhibit low hysteresis under DC electric fields and this effect can be used in relative applications for great potential. (paper)