Substituent effects in 0.65Pb(Mg1/3Nb2/3) O-3-0.35PbTiO(3) piezoelectric ceramic

Pb(Mg1/3Nb2/3)O-3-PbTiO3 (PMN-PT) ceramics with base compositions close to the morphotropic phase boundary are potential materials for many applicatio ns such as transducers and actuators due to their high dielectric constants and electromechanical coupling factors. However, their dielectrical and me chanical losses are too high for high-power applications. In this pager, th e dielectric and electromechanical properties of piezoelectric PMN-PT ceram ics were investigated in specimens containing various A-site and B-site sub stituents with the goal of developing lower loss materials for wider applic ations. Emphasis was placed on various transition metal cation substituents of both lower and higher valences. Mn substituent was found to be the most promising substituent investigated for developing high power low loss piez oelectric PMN-PT ceramics.