Structural and electrical studies of CeO2 modified lead zirconate titanateceramics

The present study is an investigation of the structural and electrical prop erties of solid solution processed lead zirconate titanate (PZT) ceramics m odified by CeO2. The PZT composition studied is Pb(Zr0.535Ti0.465)O-3 modif ied with 0.0-0.2 mol % CeO2. Studies of the loss of lead oxide during sinte ring have been performed. The lead loss increases with increasing Ce in the sample up to 0.1 mol % Ce and becomes nearly constant on further addition of Ce. The lattice parameters and cell volume of the tetragonal phase of PZ T also increase with addition of Ce up to 0.1 mol % Ce. The lead loss and X -ray data indicate that Ce is being reduced to Ce3+ and is going onto the A -site of the PZT perovskite system. The study concludes that controlled mod ification of the MPB composition of PZT using 0.1 mol % CeO2 results in sub stantial enhancement of piezoelectric strain coefficients, dielectric const ant and electromechanical coupling coefficients.