Influence of Zr substitution on ferroelectric properties of BST ceramics

Abstract

Zirconium substituted strontium modified barium titanate ceramics with compositional formula Ba <inf>0.9</inf>Sr <inf>0.1</inf>Ti <inf>1-x</inf>Zr <inf>x</inf>TiO <inf>3</inf> (0 ≤ x ≤ 0.16 in steps of 0.04) were prepared by the solid state reaction route. Effects of substitution of Zr 4+ on the physical and ferroelectric properties were studied. Decrease in relative density with increase in Zr content was observed. Ceramic sample with 4 mol% Zr showed maximum remnant polarization (11.5 μC/cm 2) and coercive field (3.2 kV/cm). Microstructural information collected from scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was found helpful to explain ferroelectric properties. © 2011 Copyright Taylor and Francis Group, LLC.