Effect of Yb Addition on the Sintering Behavior and High Power Piezoelectric Properties of Pb(Zr,Ti)O₃–Pb(Mn,Nb)O₃

Abstract

0.9Pb(Zr0.61Ti0.39)–0.1Pb(Mn1/3Nb2/3)O3 piezoelectric ceramics doped with Yb2O3 were prepared by conventional ceramic processing, and the effects of the Yb doping on the sintering behavior and high power piezoelectric properties were investigated. X-ray diffractomer (XRD) measurements indicated that the piezoelectric ceramics with Yb2O3 in this study were a single phase of polycrystalline perovskite. The sintering density was strongly affected by small amount of Yb2O3 addition. Vibration velocity, which is one of the most important factors for high power piezoelectric applications, as high as 1.0 m/s (rms value), was obtained from the 0.2 mol% Yb2O3 doped sample. This value is about 2.5 times higher than that for commercialized hard Pb(Zr,Ti)O3 ceramics.