Investigation on structural and electrical properties of BZT ceramics synthesized at low temperature.

Due to environmental concerns, lead free ceramics such as KNN- NBT and BT have growing interest in applications such as actuators and sensors. Among them Barium Zirconate Titanate (BZT) has become most attractive because it is derived from two perovskite lattice i.e. Barium Titanate (BaTiO₃) and Barium Zirconate (BaZrO₃). It has been reported that Zirconium substitution in titanium lattice enhances the material properties. In the present paper BZT was prepared using solid state route. By adding a mixture of Li₂CO₃ as a sintering aid, the sample could be sintered at 1150 °C having around 94% of the theoretical density. Prepared samples were then subjected to XRD analysis. X-ray diffraction revealed the formation of single phase material. It is observed that the electrical properties of such low-temperature sintered samples are comparable with BZT samples prepared via conventional sintering at a high temperature. It is also observed that the curie temperature shift towards room temperature for a samples sintered at low temperature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]