Effects on structure and properties of BCZT lead-free piezoelectric ceramics by rare-earth doping

1 mol% rare-earth element doped [(Ba0.85Ca0.15)(0.99)Re-0.01](Zr0.1Ti0.9)O-3 (BCZT-Re, Re = La, Sm, Yb, Eu and Er) lead-free piezoelectric ceramics were prepared by the conventional ceramic processing using high-purity carbonates and oxides as raw materials. The BCZT-Re ceramics sintered at 1450 degrees C exhibit pure rhombohedral perovskite structure approaching the morphotropic phase boundary (MPB) composition accompanied by different relative density and grain size distribution. The dielectric behavior of the BCZT-Re ceramics approaches normal ferroelectrics but with slightly broad dielectric response peaks, and can be fitted well by the Curie-Weiss law above the Curie temperature T-C but in a limited temperature range. Besides the La doping, the other BCZT-Re ceramics present symmetric and saturated P-E hysteresis loops, in which the BCZT-Eu ceramics exhibit apparently large values of polarization remnant Pr and coercive field E-c. The P-r and E-c values decrease rapidly around 80-90 degrees C, depending on compositions, in the BCZT-Re ceramics, determining their safe use temperatures. Excellent fluorescence performance with different photoluminescence emission intensity and light color is induced by the rare-earth doping in the BCZT-Re ceramics, which can meet the requirements of the multifunctional applications using the ferroelectric-based materials.