Correlation between structure and Rayleigh parameters in the lead-free piezoceramic (1-x)Ba(Ti0.88 Sn0.12)O3-x(Ba0.7Ca0.3)TiO3.

Composition dependent Rayleigh and structural analysis was carried out on lead-free piezoceramics (1-x)Ba(Ti0.88 Sn0.12)O3-x(Ba0.7Ca0.3)TiO3 at room temperature. The system exhibits a tetragonal (P4mm) structure for x>0.21, rhombohedral (R3m) for x<0.13, and orthorhombic (Amm2) for 0.13<x<0.21. Rayleigh analysis suggests that the irreversible contribution to the dielectric response is enhanced in the single phase orthorhombic compositions in the vicinity of the R3m-Amm2 and Amm2-P4mm phase boundaries, and not in compositions exhibiting phase coexistences (x=0.12 and 0.22). We also found a correspondence between the irreversible Rayleigh parameter and the coercive field in this system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]