Effect of neodymium (Nd) doping on the dielectric and ferroelectric characteristics of sol-gel derived lead zirconate titanate (53/47) thin films

The results of the studies on the effect of rare earth Nd doping on the pha se formation behavior and electrical properties of sol-gel derived Pb-1.05( Zr0.53Ti0.47)O-3 (PZT) thin films are presented. The perovskite phase is ob tained up to 5 at. % doping and beyond that pyrochlore phase was found to c oexist with the perovskite phase in all the films. The transition temperatu re of undoped lead zirconate titanate (PZT) film was found to be reduced wi th Nd doping. The Nd doped films also exhibited typical relaxor-type behavi or and a diffuse phase transition, similar to that observed in relaxor mate rials. The introduction of Nd into the PZT lattice probably introduces diso rder in the B site of ABO(3) lattice, which causes the observed dielectric relaxation. Efforts were made to isolate the irreversible component contrib utions in low field dielectric and high field polarization switching behavi or. (C) 2001 American Institute of Physics.