Effect of different Ce2O3 ON the structure and properties of BZT-CT ceramics

Barium acetate, Zirconium nitrate and Calcium nitrate, Tetrabutyl titanate and Ce2O3 were used as the starting materials, the 0.68 BaZr0.2Ti0.8O3-0.32 Ba0.7Ca0.3TiO3 ceramics are prepared by using sol-gel method, and effects of Ce2O3 content on structure, dielectric and piezoelectric properties of 0.68 BaZr0.2Ti0.8O3-0.32 Ba0.7Ca0.3TiO3 ceramics are investigated. The phase composition was detected by using X-ray diffraction characterization, and the micrographs were observed by field emission scanning electron microscopy. The results show that Ce3+ doped 0.68 BaZr0.2Ti0.8O3-0.32 Ba0.7Ca0.3TiO3 ceramics have perovskite structure, when the Ce3+ doping amount is 0.006 mol%, the density is the highest, the grain size is the most uniform, and the porosity is the smallest. With the increase of Ce3+ doping content, the dielectric constant and piezoelectric constant of the sample first decreases, then increases and then decreases, meanwhile the dielectric loss first decreases and then increases. Very coincidentally, when the Ce3+ doping amount is 0.04 mol%, the dielectric constant, piezoelectric constant and planar electromechanical coupling factor kp are the highest. So the dielectric and piezoelectric properties of 0.68 BaZr0.2Ti0.8O3-0.32 Ba0.7Ca0.3TiO3 ceramics are optimized when the Ce3+ doping amount is 0.04 mol%.