Enhancement of ferroelectric properties of Na1∕2Bi1∕2TiO3-BaTiO3 single crystals by Ce dopings

Abstract

Ferroelectric single crystal of Na1∕2Bi1∕2TiO3-BaTiO3 (NBT-BT) and Ce doped NBT-BT have been grown by flux technique. It is found that the addition of Ce plays a significant role in improving the ferroelectric properties of NBT-BT crystals, (i) by improving the value of the dielectric constant at room temperature and at Tm (the phase transition temperature between antiferroelectric and paraelectric phases with dielectric maximum), (ii) by increasing the depolarization temperature (Td) and Tm, (iii) by increasing the degree of diffuseness, and (iv) by increasing the remnant polarization (Pr) and coercive field (Ec). The reasons behind these enhancements of ferroelectric properties are discussed in detail.