Phase evolution, relaxor behavior, and ferroelectric responses in BCZT lead-free ceramics through aliovalent W6+ ions incorporation
摘要
Aliovalent ions doping is particularly effective in tailoring the electrical performance of barium calcium zirconate titanate (BCZT) piezoelectric ceramics. In this study, tungsten (W6+) ions were incorporated into BCZT ceramics via B-site substitution within the ABO3 perovskite lattice. The reaction mechanism of W6+ ions doping and its influence on the structure, phase, and electrical properties of the BCZT-xW ceramics were systematically investigated. The introduction of W6+ ions markedly enhances the dielectric and ferroelectric performance. At an optimal doping level of 0.7%, the ceramic exhibits a high relative permittivity (εr = 14,867.4) at Curie temperature and pronounced relaxor behaviour (γ = 1.701). Furthermore, moderate doping improves the ferroelectric properties, yielding a high remanent polarisation (Pr = 11.96 μC/cm2). However, excessive W6+ ions content leads to a significant increase in leakage current density and the formation of a BaWO4 secondary phase, both of which degrade the functional electrical properties. This study may offer a preliminary basis for the development of BCZT-based ceramics that could be suitable for certain advanced ferroelectric components, and might contribute modestly to the optimisation of ferroelectric materials, potentially with some environmental benefits.