Preparation and electrical properties of SrBi2Ta2O9 ceramic

SrBi2Ta2O9 (SBT) ceramic materials were prepared by the conventional mixed- oxide method. Ceramics sintered at different temperatures had distinctly di fferent microstructures. Anisometric plate-like crystalline grains were obs erved which revealed the layered structure of the material. The variations of the saturation polarization (P-s), remanent polarization (P-r) and coerc ive field (E-c) with applied field and temperature were studied by hysteres is (P-E) loop measurements. Samples were also DC poled at various temperatu res and electric fields, and their permittivity, piezoelectric (d(3)3) and pyroelectric coefficient (p) were measured. (C) 2000 Kluwer Academic Publis hers.