Microstructure, Phase Transition, and Piezoelectric Properties of Cerium-Substituted Bismuth Titanate Nanofibers.

Cerium-substituted bismuth titanate (BCT) nanofibers were synthesized using sol-gel-based electrospinning. The morphology, crystallized phase, and crystal structure of the nanofibers were characterized by scanning electron microscopy, x-ray diffraction, and transmission electron microscopy, respectively. Fine-crystallinity nanofibers with diameters in the range of 100 nm to 200 nm and length over 100 μm after annealing at 750°C for 1 h were obtained. The phase transition of the BCT nanofibers was investigated by thermal analysis, and the Curie temperature was found to be 540°C. A displacement-voltage 'butterfly' curve with displacement maximum of 1.1 nm was observed by piezoresponse force microscopy, and the maximum value of the piezoelectric coefficient was up to 158 pm/V, being attributed to successful Ce co-substitution for both A- and B-sites based on Raman spectrum analysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]