Phase transition of SrTiO3-PbZrO3 solid solutions

Dielectric properties of (1-x) SrTiO3-x PbZrO3 (0.5 less than or equal to x less than or equal to 1) ceramic solid solutions were studied at frequenci es between 10 and 10(5) Hz in a wide temperature range. Polarization loop m easurements were used to identify antiferroelectric (AFE) and ferroelectric (FE) states. A crossover from the antiferroelectric to the relaxor ferroel ectric state was observed. The dielectric relaxation spectra were found to be very broad without any peaks. The results can be understood in terms of possible AFE-FE phase frustration and local random fields, induced by a ran dom distribution of the ions of different size and polarizability. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.