Enhancement in pyroelectricity of polar Ba0.9Sr0.1TiO3 –TeO2 glass-ceramics

Abstract In the present work, the piezoelectric and pyroelectric properties of lead free ferroelectric Ba0.9Sr0.1TiO3 ceramic are altered with the addition of TeO2 glass ceramics. For this, crystalline phase of γ- TeO2 prepared by melt-quench method is mixed with Ba0.9Sr0.1TiO3 prepared by solid state reaction method, to form compounds (1-x)Ba0.9Sr0.1TiO3 – (x) TeO2, x = 0 – 0.1 at the steps of 0.025. The structural and impedance analyses confirm formation of solid solution up to x ≤ 0.05 and thereafter they show composite formation. The dielectric permittivity is observed to be maximum for composition x = 0.075. The XPS and EDX analyses are showing highest oxygen vacancy at x = 0.05. The piezoelectricity is measured using Piezo Force Microscopy technique and c-axis domains are observed showing the formation of polar glass-ceramics. The pyroelectric current increases with the increase in TeO2 content, showing the suitability of samples for energy harvesting and pyroelectric detectors.