Sm2O3 and MnO2 codoped PMN-PZT ceramics with both high mechanical quality factor and piezoelectric properties.

For lead-based ceramics used in high-power devices, it is essential that they possess both a high mechanical quality factor (Q m) and a large piezoelectric coefficient (d 33). Unfortunately, Q m is inversely proportional to d 33 for piezoelectric ceramics, which the limits their actual application. If suitable acceptor and donor dopants can be added in piezoelectric ceramics, it is rational to achieve high Q m and large d 33 simultaneously. Herein, we tried to achieve both a high mechanical quality factor and large piezoelectric activity in 0.47 pb(Mg 1/2 Nb 2/3)O 3 -0.18PbZrO 3 -0.35PbTiO 3 (PMN-PZT) ceramics via Sm 2 O 3 and MnO 2 co-doing. A range of x Mn-2Sm-PMN-PZT ceramics were fabricated by the traditional sintering method. An optimal performance was attained in 4Mn-2Sm-PMN-PZT ceramics with Q m = 1720, d 33 = 450 pC/N, ε = 2720 and k p = 0.54. The high Q m is related to the presence of defect dipoles as a result of MnO 2 doping and the large piezoelectric activity is due to the doping of Sm 2 O 3. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]