FLUORIDATED PZT CERAMICS FOR POWER TRANSDUCERS

PZT-type power ceramics are usually obtained by creating oxygen vacanc ies in the perovskite structure with the stoichiometric chemical formu la ABO(3). This is obtained by substituting lower valency for normal c ations. The concomitant oxygen vacancies constitute large structural a nd electrical defects, which lower the vibrations of the domain walls and thereby limit the dielectric and mechanical losses. The present wo rk concerns the introduction of fluoride ions in the anionic sublattic e and its effects on the electromechanical properties of PZT-type powe r ceramics. This process leads to more stable compositions. (C) 1997 A cademic Press.