Phase Formation, Dielectric and Ferroelectric Properties of Mn, Al Doped BCZT Ceramics by Molten Salt Method

Abstract

Lead-free Ba_(1-x)Ca_xZr_0.1Ti_0.9O₃ (x = 0.15) ceramics doped with 0.00–0.20 mol% MnO₂ and Al₂O₃ were prepared by the molten salt method. The powder was ball-milled for 24 h and then calcined at 1000°C for 4 h and sintered at 1300°C for 2 h. The phase formation and dielectric properties of the ceramic systems were analyzed by X-ray Diffraction (XRD) and electrical measurement. The phase of the samples showed pure perovskite structure for all conditions. The BCZT ceramics doped with MnO₂ and Al₂O₃ exhibited a dielectric properties. BCZT doped with Mn has a higher dielectric constant than BCZT doped with Al. The loss tangent values at 1 kHz were lower than 0.02 of all samples. The ceramic systems indicate ferroelectric behavior for all samples (P_r ∼ 1.25–2.26 μC/cm²and E_c ∼ 3.10–4.25 kV/cm).

Keyword:

• Molten salt method
• perovskite phase
• dielectric properties

Acknowledgments

The authors would like to express their sincere gratitude to the Thailand Research Fund (TRF), the Graduate School and Faculty of Science, Chiang Mai University and Mae Fah Luang University, Thailand for their financial support. We wish to thank the National Research University (NRU) Project under Thailand's Office of the Higher Education Commission for financial support.