Improved ferroelectricity of (1−x)Na0.5Bi0.5TiO3–xBaTiO3 ceramics rapidly sintered at low temperature

Abstract High insulating (1−x)Na0.5Bi0.5TiO3–xBaTiO3 (x=0–0.08) ceramics were rapidly sintered at low temperature and then enhanced polarizations were observed. (1−x)Na0.5Bi0.5TiO3–xBaTiO3 nano-powders were prepared by the sol–gel method and then their ceramics were rapidly sintered at 920–1150 °C. According to the saturated ferroelectric hysteresis loops, the acquired saturated and remnant polarizations are ~48 μC/cm2 and ~40 μC/cm2 at x=0.03–0.08, and the coercive electric field decreases from ~70 kV/cm of pure Na0.5Bi0.5TiO3 to ~30 kV/cm at x=0.06–0.08. Furthermore, the piezoelectric d33 is 166.8 pC/N at x=0.06, where the morphotropic phase boundaries occur. These improved properties are achieved because the leakage current is reduced through compressing the loss of Na and Bi components during ceramics׳ preparation process.