The effect of Nd substitution on the electrical properties of Bi3NbTiO9 Aurivillius phase ceramics

Abstract

The effect of Nd substitution on the microstructures and electrical properties of Aurivillius phase ferroelectric Bi3NbTiO9-based ceramics has been studied. All of the Bi3−xNdxNbTiO9 (0≤x≤1) ceramics are ferroelectrics. The Curie point TC decreased with increasing Nd doping content x. The Bi3−xNdxNbTiO9 ceramics exhibited a sharp ferroelectric-paraelectric phase transition at small x values (x≤0.6), whereas a diffuse phase transition was observed at higher x values (x≥0.8). Both the piezoelectric constant d33 and the dc electrical resistivity of Bi3NbTiO9 ceramics were greatly enhanced by Nd substitution on the A sites. The improved properties can be attributed to the fact that Nd substitution depressed the generation of oxygen vacancies. A combination of high d33 values, high resistivity, and high TC points (>700 °C) suggests that the Bi3−xNdxNbTiO9 ceramics with x≤0.6 could be good candidates for high-temperature piezoelectric applications.