Electrical properties of Y-modified Pb(SnTi)O3 ferroelectric ceramics.

Y-modified Pb(SnTi)O₃ polycrystalline materials with a general formula (Pb $${_{1-x}\hbox{Y}_{x})}$$ (Sn $${_{0.45}\hbox{Ti}_{0.55})_{1-x/4}\hbox{O}_{3}}$$ (PYST) ( x = 0, 0.05, 0.07, 0.1) have been synthesized using the standard mixed oxide method. Crystallographic and surface morphology studies are carried out by the powder X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy techniques. X-ray diffraction studies of the samples showed the tetragonal structure of the unit cell. Uniform grain distributions with porosity throughout the surface of the sample pellets are observed. The T _C (transition temperature) increases with increase in the mole fraction of the substituent ( x). ɛ^/ _max is found to decrease with increase in x. The slope of lnσ_ac∼ 1/ T shows distinct variations for temperature below 410 K, 410 K to T _c and for T > T _c. The room temperature ac conductivity at 10 kHz lies in the range of 10⁻⁵–10⁻⁶ (ohm⁻¹ m⁻¹). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]