Key Engineering Materials Vols. 368-372

Abstract: Sm-doped bismuth titanate and random oriented Bi4-xCexTi3O12 (BCT) thin films were fabricated on Pt/Ti/SiO2/Si substrates rf magnetron sputtering technique. The structures and the ferroelectric properties of the films were investigated. Ce doping leads to a marked improvement in the remanent polarization (Pr) and the coercive field (Ec). At the applied electric field of 100 kV/cm, Pr and Ec of the BCT (x = 0.8) film annealed at 650 oC are 20.5 μC/cm2 and 60 KV/cm, respectively. However, after 3 × 1010 switching cycles, 20% degradation of 2Pr is observed in the film.

Abstract: The electrical properties and Microstructures of Tb-doped bismuth titanate (Bi3.3Tb0.6Ti3O12) ceramic were investigated. XRD analyses revealed that the sample had Bi-layered perovskite structure. SEM micrographs showed randomly oriented and plate-like morphology. The remanent polarization (Pr) and coercive field (Ec) of Bi3.3Tb0.6Ti3O12 ceramic are above 25 μC/cm2 and 80 KV/cm, respectively.

Abstract: Sr4Bi4Ti7O24 (SBT7) ceramics were prepared. X-ray powder diffraction indicated that single layered perovskite ferroelectrics were obtained. The ferroelectric and dielectric properties of SBT7 ceramics were investigated. The results showed that Sr4Bi4Ti7O24 is piezoelectric material. The dielectric properties were measured as a function of temperature and two peaks were observed in the curve.

Abstract: Ca1-xSrxBi4Ti4O15 thin films were fabricated by sol-gel method on Pt(100)/Ti/SiO2/Si substrates. Influence of Sr content on the microstructure and ferroelectric properties of Ca1-xSrxBi4Ti4O15 thin films were systematically studied. The results indicate that Ca0.4Sr0.6Bi4Ti4O15 thin film has better ferroelectric properties with remanent polarization (2Pr) of 29.1+C/cm2, coercive field (2Ec) of 220 kV/cm. Furthermore, the film has good fatigue resistance. The better ferroelectric properties of Ca0.4Sr0.6Bi4Ti4O15 thin film originate from the relatively high concentration of a-axis oriented grains.

Abstract: A citrate method to synthesize 0.94Bi0.5Na0.5TiO3-0.06BaTiO3 nano-powder was studied. The stable gel was obtained by the control of the pH value and temperature of the precursor solution. The BNBT nano-powder was produced after calcining the xerogel at 600°C~800°C. The average grain size of the powder calcined at 700°C for 3 h is 50 nm, and the grain size of the ceramic sintered at 1080°C is 0.7 μm. The sintering temperature used is 100°C lower than the BNBT ceramic prepared by traditional method, but the electrical properties were comparable. In addition, it was found that the ball-milling process has important effect on the morphology of the ceramics and the orientation crystals were eliminated due to the disintegration of agglomerates during milling.

Abstract: Bi4-xLaxTi3O12 (BLT, x=0, 0.75, 1, 2) ceramic powders were prepared with sol-gel and solid phase reaction processes, respectively. BLT powders were synthesized after decarbonization at 300°C for 1h followed by calcination at 800°C for 2h. The ceramics synthesized with cold isostatic pressing and sintering at 1150°C exhibit a perovskite-like structure. The influence of sintering parameters and La doping content on density, microstructure and dielectric properties of the BLT were discussed. With the increase of La doping content in Bi4-xLaxTi3O12, dielectric constant increases and dielectric loss gradually decreases. The dielectric constant and dielectric loss of Bi4-xLaxTi3O12 (x=2) are 132.7 and 0.012 at 100 KHz, respectively.

Abstract: Bi4-xLaxTi3O12 (BLT) ferroelectric thin films were deposited on Pt/Si substrates by RF magnetron sputtering with Bi4-xLaxTi3O12 (x=0.5, 0.75, 1) targets with 50-mm diameter and 5-mm thickness. The effects of La contents on microstructure and ferroelectric properties of Bi4-xLaxTi3O12 thin films were investigated. The grain growth behavior and ferroelectric properties such as remanent polarization were found to be dependent on the La contents in the BLT thin films.

Abstract: Bi2Fe4O9 nanoparticles were prepared at low temperature via a facile, one-step hydrothermal synthesis process using iron(III) nitrate nonahydrate (Fe(NO3)3•9H2O) and bismuth nitrate pentahydrate (Bi(NO3)3•5H2O) as starting materials and sodium hydroxide (NaOH) as precipitant and mineralizer. XRD results indicated that the as-prepared nanoparticles are pure orthorhombic Bi2Fe4O9. SEM images revealed that the as-prepared Bi2Fe4O9 nanoparticles have a sheet-like morphology. They are paramagnetic at room temperature demonstrated by the magnetic measurements.

Abstract: CCTO powders were prepared by using molten salt method in the NaCl-KCl system. The effects of temperature and holding time on phase compositions, particle morphology and size have been investigated by X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscope and laser particle size analyzer. Using CaCO3, CuO and TiO2 as starting materials, CCTO compound could be synthesized at any temperature from 800oC to 1000oC in the NaCl-KCl system. The average particle size increased obviously with the increasing of temperature above 850 oC. Holding time had great effect on grain size and morphology.

Abstract: CaCu3Ti4O12 and CaCu3Ti3.9Zr0.1O12 ceramics were prepared by the traditional solid-state reaction method and the dielectric properties were investigated. Comparison of the results of the two samples examined indicated that the partial replacement of titanium by zirconium in the system CaCu3Ti4O12 may result in different changes of the dielectric constant and dielectric loss. For these experimental phenomena possible explanations and predictions also have been presented.