Effects of Various Precursor Process Routes on the Properties of Lead-Based Ferroelectric Ceramics in PFN-PMN Binary System

The binary system of Pb(Fe1/2Nb1/2)O3(PFN)-Pb(Mg1/3Nb2/3)O3(PMN) was inves- tigated into the effects of different precursor process routes on the microstructrure and dielectric properties by using X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscope (SEM), transmission electron microscope (TEM), energy dispersion spetrometer (EDS) and dielectric measurements. It is concluded that for the binary system (1-x)PFN-xPMN, the change of Curie temperature is approximately linear with respect to PMN content in the range of interest (x = 0～0.5). With the increase of x, the Curie points shift to lower temperatures. And the dielectric maximum (emax) decreases with increasing x. Both calcining and sintering conditions have non-negligible influence on microstructure and dielectric properties. Dielectric and other properties were compared for samples prepared by single-step and two-step precalcination route and the possible mechanisms leading to the differences were discussed.