A Pb(Zr,Ti)O₃–Pb(Zn_1/3Nb_2/3)O₃–Bi(Mn_2/3Sb_1/3)O₃ quaternary solid solution ceramic with low sintering temperature, high piezoelectric coefficient and large mechanical quality factor

A quaternary high-power piezoelectric ceramic of 0.9Pb(Zr_xTi_1−x)O₃–0.06Pb(Zn_1/3Nb_2/3)O₃–0.04Bi(Mn_2/3Sb_1/3)O₃+ y mol% Fe₂O₃ (x = 0.45–0.53) was reported to exhibit excellent overall properties of \({{\varepsilon_{33}^{T} } \mathord{\left/ {\vphantom {{\varepsilon_{33}^{T} } {\varepsilon_{0} }}} \right. \kern-0pt} {\varepsilon_{0} }} = 1615\), d₃₃ = 305 pC/N, k_p = 0.56, Q_m = 1678, and T_c = 302 °C at x = 0.48 and y = 0.7 as sintered at 1040 °C. The relevant mechanism was ascribed to the combined effect of the formation of a traditional morphotropic phase boundary, the low-temperature sintering and amphoteric role of Bi(Mn_2/3Sb_1/3)O₃ and the modification of Fe₂O₃ doping. The results demonstrate that Bi-based complex perovskite Bi(Mn_2/3Sb_1/3)O₃ can simultaneously provide soft and hard characteristics similar to traditional Pb(Mn_1/3Sb_2/3)O₃ and Pb(Mn_1/3Nb_2/3)O₃. The addition of a small amount of Fe₃O₃ was found to have an obvious effect on the densification behavior and grain growth, and to simultaneously promote the piezoelectric properties and quality factor Q_m as y ˂ 0.9. Compared with traditional piezoelectric ceramics, low-sintering temperature and excellent piezoelectric properties indicate that the studied composition in current work could have potentials for low-cost high-power device applications.