Effects of Fe₂O₃ addition on microstructure and piezoelectric properties of 0.2PZN–0.8PZT ceramics

In this work, the effect of Fe₂O₃ addition on the microstructure and piezoelectric properties of Pb(Zn_1/3Nb_2/3)_0.2Ti_0.4Zr_0.4O₃ (0.2PZN–0.8PZT) ceramics were investigated. The studies indicated that the solution limit of Fe₂O₃ in the lattice of perovskite structure was about 0.1 wt%. Phase analysis shows that small addition of doping Fe₂O₃ results in the phase evolution from rhombohedral to tetragonal, sharp decrease of the Curie temperature, and remarkable increase of the grain size. Meanwhile, Fe₂O₃ addition within the solution limit led to the increase of the ε_r, k_p, and d₃₃. It is believed that the variation in the dielectric and piezoelectric properties are closely related to the microstructure change, phase evolution, and tetragonal distortion as Fe₂O₃ added.