Investigation of phase diagram and electrical properties of xPb(Mg1/3Nb2/3)O3–(1 − x)Pb(Zr0.4Ti0.6)O3 ceramics

Ceramics in PMN–PZT system with formula xPb(Mg1/3Nb2/3)O3–(1 − x)Pb(Zr0.4Ti0.6)O3 (where x = 0.32, 0.35, 0.38, 0.41) were prepared by the conventional oxide-mixed method. The phase diagram, composition dependent ferroelectric, dielectric, field-induced strain and piezoelectric properties were systematically investigated. X-ray diffraction analysis indicated that as-prepared ceramics were of pure perovskite phase and the possible morphotropic phase boundary (MPB) between the tetragonal and pseudo-cubic phase compositions were located near the PMN content of x = 0.38, confirmed by their corresponding ferroelectric, dielectric, field-induced strain and piezoelectric properties. The composition with x = 0.38 possessed the optimum electrical properties since its composition locate close to the MPB where exist multiple polarization directions facilitates domain reorientation and consequently enables the superior electrical properties. The room temperature dielectric permittivity εr, tangent loss tan δ, piezoelectric coefficient d33, electromechanical coupling factor kp, remnant polarization Pr, hysteresis loop squareness Rsq and longitudinal strain of 0.38PMN–0.62PZT ceramics are 2441, 2.08 %, 662 pC/N, 63.5 %, 37.2 μC/cm2, 1.51 and 1.9 ‰, respectively, which mean it has a great promise for actuator applications.