Investigation of Phase Structure and Electrical Properties of Doped PMN- PZT Ceramics Prepared by Different Methods.

The doped 0.25 Pb(Mg1/3 Nb2/3) O3-0.40 PbTiO3-0.35 PbZrO3 ( PMN-PZT) ceramics with pure perovskite phase were prepared by one-step oxide-mixed method and conventional columbite method. The phase structure and electrical properties were systematically investigated. Crystallites of the ceramic fabricated by the oxide-mixed method are partially oriented with the c-axis, while samples prepared from columbite method are randomly oriented. This crystalline orientation enabled better electric properties, especially a higher piezoelectric coefficient d33 of 760 pC/N and electromechanical coupling factor kp of 69%. Materials fabricated from the oxide-mixed method are attractive for high-performance piezoelectric actuator and this simple method may have a great prospect in industrial production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]