Characteristics of the PMnN-PMS-PZT pyroelectric ceramics for energy harvesting devices

Pb[(Mn0.33Nb0.67)(1/2)(Mn0.33Sb0.67)(1/2)](0.08)(ZrxTi1-x)(0.92)O-3 (PMnN-PMS-PZT) pyroelectric ceramics with varied compositions were successfully prepared by the conventional solid state method. The microstructures and electric properties of three different Zr/Ti compositions, i.e. 94/6, 95/5 and 96/4 (in molar ratio) of the ceramics were studied. When x = 0.94, 0.95 and 0.96 in the ceramics, the maximum pyroelectric coefficient peaks appear at 43 degrees C, 28 degrees C and 34 degrees C, and the maximum values are 21.0x10(-4)C/m(2)degrees C, 26.5x10(-4)C/m(2)degrees C and 16.0x10(-4)C/m(2)degrees C, respectively. And the ceramics of the three different Zr/Ti compositions were used to fabricate pyroelectric energy harvesting devices, which were evaluated by using an oven as the heating method. The maximum densities of surface charge achieved for the ceramics of the three compositions are 6.47x10(-6)C/cm(2), 7.19x10(-6)C/cm(2) and 4.31x10(-6)C/cm(2), respectively. The obtained results indicate that the PMnN-PMS-PZT ceramic with Zr/Ti of 95/5 in molar ratio exhibits the best pyroelectric and ferroelectric properties, which may have potential applications in fabricating pyroelectric energy harvesting devices.