Phase transition behavior and high piezoelectric properties in lead-free BaTiO3–CaTiO3–BaHfO3 ceramics

The transition behavior, structural changes, and electric properties of lead-free (1−x)Ba(Hf0.16Ti0.84)O3–x(Ba0.70Ca0.30)TiO3 (BCHT) ceramics fabricated by the conventional solid-state reaction method are investigated in this study. A complete phase diagram of BCHT system has been proposed based on their dielectric behavior. It is found that BHCT ceramics undergo a complicated phase evolution, driven by Ca and Hf contents. The results clearly demonstrate that high electric properties are achieved in the ferroelectric orthorhombic–tetragonal phase boundary near the composition with x = 0.48, which could be adjusted by the contents of Ca and Hf in the composition. The optimum composition shows enhanced properties with dielectric constant er = 2889 (at room temperature, 1 kHz), high piezoelectric coefficient d33 = 410 pC/N, and electromechanical coupling factor kp = 0.47, and a relative high Curie temperature of 106 °C. This investigation yields a sight to understand different phase transition mechanisms of enhanced piezoelectricity for the system.