Investigation of the electrical properties of textured 0.5[Ba(Zr_0.2Ti_0.8)]O₃–0.5[(Ba_0.7Ca_0.3)TiO₃] piezoceramics

In this study, lead-free 0.5[Ba(Zr_0.2Ti_0.8)]O₃–0.5[(Ba_0.7Ca_0.3)TiO₃] (BZT–BCT) piezoelectric ceramics were prepared in the temperature range of 1360–1480 °C by dry-pressing and tape-casting. 5 mole% plate-like BaTiO₃ templates were used for texturing BZT–BCT through templated grain growth process. Highly textured ceramics with up to 0.94° of grain orientation as determined by the Lotgering factor were obtained with optimum sintering conditions. Textured ceramics exhibited excellent electromechanical properties (d₃₃^* > 900 pm/V, x > 0.19%) and dielectric properties (ε_r > 3000, tanδ < 1.8%) at room temperature. The Curie–Weiss analysis indicated that while ceramics with randomly oriented grains showed a mixed character between normal and relaxor ferroelectric behavior, development of texture led to a decrease in the diffuseness of the phase transition.