Abstract
Polycrystalline samples of Pb1-zSmz(Zr0·60Ti·4)1-z/4O3 (abbreviated as PSZT), with z=0·07, 0·08, and 0·10, have been prepared by a metal-alkoxide sol-gel method. Preliminary X-ray diffraction and transmission electron microscopic analysis of the compounds suggests the formation of nearly single phase compounds in the tetragonal crystal system. SEM analysis of pellet samples sintered at 1300°C for 7 h shows a uniform distribution of nearly spherical grains throughout the sample surfaces. Detailed studies of dielectric constant and tangent loss of PSZT as a function of temperature (from 30 to 400°C) at 1 and 10 kHz frequencies reveal the existence of di ffuse phase transitions in the samples. The transition temperature Tc, broadening of the permittivity peak, remanent polarisation Pr, and coercive field Ec of PSZT change significantly with increasing Sm3 + doping concentration.