Enhancement of dielectric properties of 0.2[BZT-BCT]-0.8 [(1-x)epoxy-xCCTO] (x=0.02, 0.04, 0.06, 0.08 & 0.1) composites for embedded capacitor and energy harvesting applications

0.2{0.5[Ba(Zr0.2Ti0.8)O-3]-0.5[(Ba0.7Ca0.3)TiO3]/BZT-BCT]-0.8{[(1 - x)(epoxy)]-x[CaCu3Ti4O12]/CCTO} 0-3 composites (where x = 0.02, 0.04, 0.06, 0.08 & 0.1 volume fractions) were fabricated by hand lay-up technique. Structural, dielectric & piezoelectric properties of the synthesized composites were investigated and discussed in detail. Single phase of the (BZT-BCT) and CCTO sintered ceramics was confirmed by the X-ray diffraction (XRD) study. The value of the relative permittivity (epsilon(r)) and piezoelectric constant (d(33)) of the synthesized composites increased with the increase in the volume fractions of the CCTO ceramics up to x = 0.08. At room temperature (RT) and at 1 kHz frequency, [0.2(BZT-BCT)-0.736(epoxy)-0.064(CCTO)] composites exhibited highest dielectric (epsilon(r) similar to 61) and piezoelectric (d(33) similar to 16) properties. Experimental dielectric data were fitted to several theoretical models and the Yamada and EMT models were found to be useful for the prediction of the effective dielectric constant of the studied composites. (C) 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.