Electrical properties of (1−x)(Bi0.5Na0.5)TiO3–xBaTiO3 synthesized by emulsion method

Abstract (1 − x )(Bi 0.5 Na 0.5 )TiO 3 – x BaTiO 3 ( x = 0–0.10)((1 − x )BNT– x BT) powders were synthesized by a emulsion method, and the electrical properties of the resulting ceramics were investigated. The results confirm the emulsion method as a viable and advantageous route in producing (1 − x )BNT– x BT ceramics. The powders consisting of uniform and fine preliminary particles of about 50 nm were synthesized by calcining at 700 °C for 3 h. The ceramics sintered at 1200 °C for 3 h show a rhombohedral–tetragonal morphotrophc phase boundary (MPB) near x = 0.06. The ceramics provide superior dielectric and piezoelectric properties close to the phase boundary. The dielectric constant at 1 kHz and piezoelectric constant d 33 attain the maximum values of 1840 and 174 pC/N, respectively, at x = 0.08, while the electromechanical coupling factor k p exhibits the maximum value of 0.28 at x = 0.06.