Characteristics of the PMnN-PMS-PZT pyroelectric ceramics for energy harvesting devices

abstract

Pb[(Mn_0.33Nb_0.67)_1/2(Mn_0.33Sb_0.67)_1/2]_0.08(Zr_xTi_1-x)_0.92O₃ (PMnN-PMS-PZT) pyroelectric ceramics with varied compositions were successfully prepared by the conventional solid state method. The microstructures and electric properties of three different Zr/Ti compositions, i.e. 94/6, 95/5 and 96/4 (in molar ratio) of the ceramics were studied. When x = 0.94, 0.95 and 0.96 in the ceramics, the maximum pyroelectric coefficient peaks appear at 43°C, 28°C and 34°C, and the maximum values are 21.0×10⁻⁴C/m²°C, 26.5×10⁻⁴C/m²°C and 16.0×10⁻⁴C/m²°C, respectively. And the ceramics of the three different Zr/Ti compositions were used to fabricate pyroelectric energy harvesting devices, which were evaluated by using an oven as the heating method. The maximum densities of surface charge achieved for the ceramics of the three compositions are 6.47×10⁻⁶C/cm², 7.19×10⁻⁶C/cm² and 4.31×10⁻⁶C/cm², respectively. The obtained results indicate that the PMnN-PMS-PZT ceramic with Zr/Ti of 95/5 in molar ratio exhibits the best pyroelectric and ferroelectric properties, which may have potential applications in fabricating pyroelectric energy harvesting devices.

Keywords:

• Pyroelectric ceramics
• dielectric properties
• pyroelectric properties
• energy harvesting

Acknowledgments

The authors also wish to thank the Analytical and Testing Center of Huazhong University of Science and Technology.

Funding

The present study was supported by the National Nature Science Foundation of China (61378076), Research Fund of the Doctoral Program of Higher Education of China (20110142120074) and National Key Scientific Instrument and Equipment Development Projects of China (2013YQ160551).