Enhanced piezoelectric properties in low-temperature sintered Pb(Zr,Ti)O₃-based ceramics via Yb₂O₃ doping

Pb(Mg0.5W0.5)O-3-Pb(Ni1/3Nb2/3)O-3-Pb(Zr0.5Ti0.5)O-3 (PNN-PMW-PZT) piezoceramics were sintered at a low temperature of 900 degrees C by the mixed metal oxide powder solid-state reaction route. CaCO3 and Li2CO3 as sintering aids and Yb2O3 as a dopant were added into the PNN-PMW-PZT ceramic system for low-temperature sintering and enhancement of electrical properties, respectively. The effects of different Yb2O3 doping amounts on the microstructure, dielectric, piezoelectric and ferroelectric properties of the samples were systematically investigated. The piezoceramics doped with 0.1 mol% Yb2O3 have optimal electrical properties (d(33 )= 563 pC/N, k(p) = 0.66, epsilon(r) = 2728 (1 kHz), tan delta = 0.0176 (1 kHz), and T-C = 301 degrees C). While the piezoceramics doped with 0.3 mol% Yb2O3 have optimal energy conversion properties: the piezoelectric voltage coefficient g(33) = 26.7 x 10(-3) Vm/N and the effective piezoelectric energy conversion coefficient d(33) x g(33) = 14366 x 10(-15) m(2)/N.