Investigation of Piezoelectric Properties in Ca-Doped PbBa(Zr,Ti)O3 (PBZT) Ceramics.

The perovskite-structured materials P b 0.75 B a 0.25 1 − x C a x (Z r 0.7 T i 0.3) O 3 for x = 1 and 2 at.% were synthesized using the conventional mixed-oxide method and carbonates. Microstructural analysis, performed using a scanning electron microscope, revealed rounded grains with relatively inhomogeneous sizes and distinct grain boundaries. X-ray diffraction confirmed that the materials exhibit a rhombohedral structure with an R3c space group at room temperature. Piezoelectric resonance measurements were conducted to determine the piezoelectric and elastic properties of the samples. The results indicated that a small amount of calcium doping significantly enhanced the piezoelectric coefficient d₃₁. The calcium-doped ceramics exhibited higher electrical permittivity across the entire temperature range compared to the pure material, as well as a significant value of remanent polarization. These findings indicate that the performance parameters of the base material have been significantly improved, making these ceramics promising candidates for various applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]