Piezoelectric and dielectric properties of Pb0.93La0.02Sr0.05(Zr0.52Ti0.48)O3 ceramics doped with Li2CO3 at low sintering temperature

Pb0.93La0.02Sr0.05(Zr0.52Ti0.48)O-3 (PLSZT) ceramics were successfully doped with various amounts of Li2CO3. The effect of Li2CO3 as sintering aid on crystallization process of PLSZT ceramic was also determined by thermal analysis (TGA/DTA). As the amount of Li2CO3 increased from 0.1 to 1 mol%, the sintering temperature was found to decrease from 1150 to 850 degrees C. Li2CO3 addition improved the densification and increased the average grain size. XRD data revealed the formation of single perovskite phase in all compositions. The effects of Li+ doping on the piezoelectric and dielectric properties of PLSZT ceramics were also investigated in which the piezoelectric and dielectric properties were found to be enhanced with the increase in Li+ content. The best piezoelectric and dielectric properties were obtained for 0.7 mol% Li2CO3 with rho=7.421 g/cm(3), KP = 0.46, d(33)=259 (pC/N), epsilon(r)=1270, and tan delta=0.0847.