Effect of CuO addition on structure and electrical properties of low temperature sintered quaternary piezoelectric ceramics

The ceramics were prepared successfully by CuO additions to Pb[(Mn1/3Sb2/3)0·06(Ni1/2W1/2)0·02(Zr0·49Ti0·51)0·92]O3. Effect of the addition on sintering temperature, structure and electrical properties of ceramics was investigated. The piezoelectric ceramics was prepared by solid-state reaction. Sintering experiments were accomplished at temperature between 950 and 1100 °C added 0· 3–1· 0 wt% CuO. The sintering temperature was reduced from 1250 °C (without CuO additions) to 970 °C when CuO-doped. The ceramics sintered at 970 °C for 2 h with 0· 7 wt% CuO exhibited e r = 1845, tan δ = 0· 15%, d 33 = 395 pC/N, k p = 0· 58 and Q m = 1830, which were the highest values. With increasing CuO doping, T c becomes lower. Jahn–Teller effect was used to explain the contraction of c-axis and simultaneous extension of a-axis in the lattice.