Preparation and Characterization of Mn-Doped (Ba_0.85Ca_0.15)(Zr_0.1Ti_0.9)O₃ Ceramics

Abstract

MnO₂-doped lead free 0.5[Ba(Zr_0.2Ti_0.8)O₃]-0.5[(Ba_0.7Ca_0.3)TiO₃] ceramics were synthesized by a high-energy ball milling process. We studied the phase formation process along different steps of the mechanical milling. We show that the addition of a small amount of MnO₂ (x < 0.5 mol.%) improves the dielectric and ferroelectric properties of the ceramics. It is found that the doping with manganese increases the dielectric constant and reduces the loss, which decreases considerably as the Mn content increases. The remnant polarization of the doped ceramics is increased by 10%.

Keywords:

• Lead-free piezoelectrics
• BCZT